Amazon.com labor organizer Christian Smalls arrested on Wednesday, accused of intrusion when he delivered warehouse worker food as part of a high profile union campaign he is leading.
Small, one former Amazon employee and two other people have been charged with obstruction of government administration, said Lt. John Grimpel of the New York Police Department, adding that Smalls was also accused with resist arrest and intrusion.
The other two people were Amazon workers, a plea group noted. Smalls said all three were later released, adding that he disputes the charges and will continue his battle in to research.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said Smalls “repeatedly violated despite multiple warnings.” The company had not contacted the police about its own employees.
Thirty three year-the old children quest to do Amazon’s JFK8 Staten Island warehouse a unionized establishment will come to a head when the workers vote from March 25.
A second the closely watched election is currently performing at Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama warehouse, with vote- by mail being accepted until March 25 and the vote starting March 28. Last yearthe workers of this warehouse vote against unionization.
A majority vote to unionize in any of these establishments would mark the life of Amazon first organized workplace in the United States and a milestone for those who seek to reinvigorate the American labor movement.
Reached by phone, Smalls said he brought food on Wednesday afternoon for current employees to distribute, something he did for month. Meals in the rest room are the ALUs chance for share literature and build relationships with workers, he said.
But this time, Smalls said the Amazon manager who fired him two years ago told him to leave, before calling the police.
“I am literally a visitor. Do you call police on Taxi drivers and Uber drivers who expect for associates?” Smalls said, adding that Amazon wanted to “raise the intimidation factor” by son arrest. Amazon had no immediate comment on Claim of the little ones.
His clashes with Amazon appointment back to March 2020 when the company fired him for protest against JFK8 despite being on quarantine paid. Smalls then sued Amazon, alleging he fired him because he was black and objected. discriminatory COVID-19 policies. A federal judge dismissed the suit this month.
Siena Fountain, general counsel for advocacy organization Make the Road New York, said: “The people that Amazon is throwing in jail fight for better working conditions and should to be treated with respect and dignity.”
Smalls said the arrest would not prevent him from organizing warehouse.
“I am on my way here now,” he said, shortly before 10 p.m. Eastern. ” I will bring more food for night shift.”
