The National Labor Relations Council (NLRB) officer has recommended that workers at the Amazon Warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama held a new election because Amazon broke US employment law, the New York Times reported. It is still only a preliminary decision, but gives hope that workers may still be able to join retail, wholesale and department store union (RWDSU).
Last April, workers in the fulfillment center vote for unification with more than two to one margin. However, after the vote, Rwdsu alleged that Amazon won because “annoying” with the rights of his employees “to choose in free and fair elections; protected rights under the 7 national labor relations law.”
Rwdsu submitted 23 total objections, including a complaint that Amazon had a ballot collection box installed in the employee parking lot “without authorization” from the NLRB regional director. It noted that the box was placed under the view of the Amazon security camera, creating “the impression of supervision.”
NLRB officers sided with Union, said Amazon violated US employment law. “Throughout NLRB, we heard strong evidence of how Amazon strives illegally interfere and intimidating workers when they try to use their rights to form trade unions,” said the Stuart Union President Appelbaum in a statement. “We support the recommendations of hearing officers that NLRB eliminated the election results and directed new elections.”
Amazon, however, said it would refute the decision and take steps to ensure that the initial sound was held. “Our employees have the opportunity to be heard during noisy time when all types of sound weighed into the national debate, and in the end, they choose extraordinary support directly with their managers,” Amazon spokesman said in a statement. “Their voice must be heard above all, and we plan to beg to make sure it happens.”
The decision does not have legal force until the decision is full made by regional director of NLRB acting, something that can take up to one month. During that time, the party would be able to submit an exception.
Since Bessemer’s vote, the Amazon situation has attracted the attention of the team’s unity, which created a special division to focus on organizing the driver of the Amazon delivery. Amazon has been criticized for the working conditions of the driver and warehouse workers, along with efforts to remove unions exposed in the New York Times report earlier this year.
