Amazon defeated a vote to form a union at its warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. Amazon has been aggressively campaigning against the formation of a union there since late last year. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) said it’s officially filing objections alleging Amazon illegally interfered with the election .
Why doesn’t Amazon have a union?
Amazon hired a law firm that specialized in helping companies subdue union activity. Ultimately, employees voted 21-6 against joining the union . Amazon says that its workers don’t need collective bargaining agreements because the company already offers much of what unions demand.
Should amazon unionize?
Amazon has long been a big target for labor unions. Organized labor views a potential win at the fast-growing company as a huge symbolic victory. Some union officials say unionizing one Amazon location could pave the way for future successes . Yet, to date, Amazon employees have repeatedly told labor unions, “Thanks, but no thanks.”.
Why doesn’t Amazon want workers to unionize?
Often, in explaining their position, they echoed the arguments that Amazon had made in mandatory meetings, where it stressed its pay, raised doubts about what a union could guarantee and said benefits could be reduced if workers unionized.
The final tally was 1,798 votes against unionizing and 738 votes for the union, with 70.9% of valid votes counted against unionizing. The union had needed 50% plus one of the ballots to win. Stuart Appelbaum, the president of the RWDSU, said the union intended to file objections accusing Amazon of unfair labor practices.
Another thing we asked ourselves was what does Amazon see in the future of unions?
“Amazon, looking forward to the future, … sees that if there is a change in administrations , that that administration is more likely to [support] the formation of unions in the nation’s critical industries and now the technology industry is that.”.
Why is Amazon Facing unfair labor lawsuits?
The union behind the drive said that it intends to file objections and unfair labor practice charges with the labor board , but it has also said that Amazon took advantage of a broken system, one that is stacked in the favor of employers.
Will Amazon unionize in Bessemer?
Now Amazon faces a union vote at a warehouse in Bessemer, Ala. — the largest and most viable U. Labor challenge in its history. Nearly 6,000 workers have until March 29 to decide whether to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.
Will amazon workers unionize?
Amazon warehouse employees have tried to unionize for years . So far, it hasn’t worked. There’s a reason why many experts consider this union fight particularly important: The e-commerce giant is the second-largest employer in the U. With more than 950,000 employees nationally.
Do Amazon warehouse workers have unions?
Four years later, Amazon warehouse technicians in Delaware petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to organize a union and held the first vote if its kind within Amazon’s fulfillment operations, according to Time magazine. Amazon and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers launched dueling lobbying campaigns.
(CNN Business) Amazon defeated a high-profile union drive at a warehouse in Alabama earlier this year. But now the e-commerce giant could face a much larger campaign to unionize its US warehouse workers, launched by one of the biggest unions in the nation.
“There should be no intimidation, no coercion, no threats, no anti-union propaganda,” he said in a video that never mentioned Amazon but referred to “workers in Alabama” deciding whether to organize a union. “You know, every worker should have a free and fair choice to join a union. The law guarantees that choice.”.
Are Amazon workers signing union authorization cards?
But whether Amazon workers are currently signing union authorization cards is a closely guarded secret. “The only thing that you can do on an organizing campaign is operate under surprise,” said UFCW president Marc Perrone.
Does Amazon have a union training video?
Amazon said the training video has not been used since last year, and it was in compliance with the National Labor Relations Act. Amazon is also recruiting employee relations managers whose duties include having “significant experience in handling union organizing activities” and “responding to union activity.”.