Amazon Union Election to Start in February, First Since 2014

The announcement brings Amazon employees a step closer to deciding whether to join part of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

By Reuters | Updated: 16 January 2021 15:14 IST

Amazon Union Election to Start in February, First Since 2014

Highlights

As of January 7, Amazon employed almost 6,200 hourly workers
To win, the union needs a simple majority of those who submit ballots
The labor board sided with the union on a mail-in procedure for voting

Amazon's first US union election since 2014 is scheduled to begin with the mailing of ballots in early February and a vote count starting March 30, a US labor board official said in a filing on Friday.

The announcement brings employees at Amazon's fulfillment center in Bessemer, Alabama, a step closer to deciding whether to join part of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). A "yes" vote would mark the first-ever for a US Amazon facility.

Unions have had greater success organizing at Amazon elsewhere, such as in France, where they precipitated a month-long closure of its warehouses last year.

Samsung Wins Patent for a Tri-Fold Smartphone With Specialised Barrier Layer for Improved Durability

As of January 7, Amazon employed almost 6,200 hourly workers at the warehouse, according to the filing. To win, the union needs a simple majority of those who submit ballots.

While Amazon had preferred in-person voting, the labor board sided with the union on a mail-in procedure "because this is the safest and most appropriate method of conducting an election in view of the extraordinary circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic," the filing said.

America's second-largest private employer after Walmart Inc, Amazon has long avoided unionization, and it has trained managers to spot organizing activity. A website, doitwithoutdues.com, warns the Bessemer employees, "Why pay almost $500 in dues? We've got you covered* with high wages, health care, vision, and dental benefits."

Google Workers Form Labour Union to Shield Members From Firings

In statements, Amazon said the website's purpose was to educate staff about "the facts of joining a union" and that "We will continue to insist on measures for a fair election." The company added that its rejected proposal for an in-person election would improve "associate convenience, vote fidelity, and timeliness of vote count."

The RWDSU declined to comment.

The world's largest online retailer has faced criticism over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting some workers to protest outside warehouses and demand their closure. Labor organizing has begun in different parts of the company.

Amazon, reporting more than 19,000 COVID-19 cases as of September, has said it increased cleaning, rolled out virus tests and temperature checks, and added other measures to protect associates.

Ballots will be mailed on February 8, the board filing said.

What will be the most exciting tech launch of 2021? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.