amazon, one of Biggest employers in The United States, so far has maintained itself union-Free in it’s a home market. However, the e-commerce giant is now facing Check votes In three US facilities you can create both union Foothold and spur on campaigns elsewhere.
Christian Smalls no longer works at JFK8 from Amazon warehouse in New York, but still see former colleagues Every day at the bus station as they are head to me work. for him mission: to persuade workers to form a union.
In JFK8, in In the city of Staten Island, 5,000 workers will be able to throw in their photos ballots on The union From 25 to 30 March, the counting is scheduled to begin on March 31.
a vote at second Staten Island location, a sorting center with 1,500 employees peopleis due to begin April 25.
in the southern state of Alabama, more From 6000 workers in warehouse in Bessemer has another chance to form a union. They have until March 25 to vote By mail, the count will be there start on March 28 and can take up to two weeks.
the vast majority of Bessemer facility workers last year Been voted against unionism, but the American labor officials overseeing the process threw out The resultQuoted from “Intervention” by Amazon.
Need for they change
Smalls, 33, has been divorced in March 2020 just After organizing a protest for personal protection equipment middle of increase of The first Major COVID-19 outbreak in New York.
Instead of quietly going away, Smalls spoke out about him experience And keep screaming for more support for essential workers.
shortly after first vote in Bessemer, Smalls together with current And the former Amazon workers created the Amazon Workers Union.
“me know I on right side of “This is a fight,” Smalls told AFP earlier this month during a bank phone call. event where about 20 volunteers gathered call employees one-by-one To take advantage of the potential of a union To enhance wages, working conditions, benefits and job security.
Isaiah Thomas, 20 who Works at Bessemer to fund his studies, he using The same arguments to convince fellow workers at Amazon.
after last yearBackback, the retail, wholesale and convenience store federation, which supports the state of Alabama campaignShe redoubled her efforts to speak with Workers, door to door and during breaks.
The moment I walked through the doors on Mine first day on On the job, I realized we needed to change at Amazon,” Thomas said, who pointed to safety Unreasonable risks and workloads over Long day, limited rest times.
Thomas joined The next effort to raise awareness of union supporters.
Prior to that time, “I wasn’t really know how a union It works,” he said.
hard fight
Amazon has taken a similar approach in Both New York and Alabama, which discourages workers from supporting Unions at mandatory meetings, and through signs and other literature on the job site.
The company says that the formation of a union It will spoil the direct relationship of the company with Workers represent a jump inside the unknown with number guarantee Workers will wind up with Improving pay or job security.
Our employees have a choice of or not join a unionAmazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said. “As a company, we don’t think unions are best Answer for our staff.
“Our focus remains on Action directly with for us team To continue making Amazon a great place to work,” she added.
Nantel promoted company benefits that include healthcare and funding for college tuition fees after three months of work. company also Pays competitively, including at Bessemer, where it’s $15.80 an hour floor He is more From twice Federal minimum wage.
Ruth Milkman, sociologist of Labor movements in the city university of New York, said US labor law piles up the odds in favor of company, so a union win will be important.
“any person of These campaigns on Amazon were supposed to be successful, they would be huge and they would be very inspiring to others people Milkman said.
However, “I am not optimistic,” she said, noting that New York campaign Does not belong with established union maybe commit financial resources for support Organizing effort.
Meanwhile, in Bessemer, workers have few alternatives in terms of Jobs that pay like amazon.
“Your employer propaganda can scare you,” Milkman said, adding that workers would “think” twice about shaking the boat.
