Union to file charges against Amazon over 'blatantly illegal conduct' in Bessemer election

[Wicked Blue]

Source: Raw Story/Common Dreams

Jake Johnson, Common Dreams
April 09, 2021

As Amazon on Friday received the votes needed to defeat a unionization effort at its Bessemer, Alabama warehouse, the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union announced that it intends to formally object to the election results and file unfair labor practice charges against the tech behemoth for "unlawfully interfering" with employees' right to organize.

"We won't let Amazon's lies, deception, and illegal activities go unchallenged, which is why we are formally filing charges against all of the egregious and blatantly illegal actions taken by Amazon during the union vote," said Stuart Appelbaum, president of RWDSU, the union that attempted to organize the roughly 6,000 Bessemer warehouse workers.

"Amazon knew full well that unless they did everything they possibly could, even illegal activity, their workers would have continued supporting the union," Appelbaum said. "That's why they required all their employees to attend lecture after lecture, filled with mistruths and lies, where workers had to listen to the company demand they oppose the union. That's why they flooded the internet, the airwaves, and social media with ads spreading misinformation. That's why they brought in dozens of outsiders and union-busters to walk the floor of the warehouse."

"Amazon's conduct has been despicable," added Appelbaum. "We demand a comprehensive investigation over Amazon's behavior in corrupting this election."

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/union-to-file-charges-against-amazon-over-blatantly-illegal-conduct-in-bessemer-election/

[BradBo]

1. And cue the New Supreme Court.

[Beachnutt]

2. Should organize a fulfillment center in a BLUE state.

Big mistake trying to organize in a deep south red state.

[DENVERPOPS]

7. Exactly........ NC

[agincourt]

8. That's what I thought as well,

Leftist labor leaders try to make you think you can organize in red as well as blue, but if a big chunk of the workers identify more with the wealthy than their fellow workers, success is highly unlikely. I wonder what the card signing numbers were, I always heard that if one does not get 80%, the union election will probably fail, because company propaganda and dirty tricks reduces that number.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. Exactly

Washington state where Amazon's headquarters are is in the top 5 states based on percentage of workforce which is unionized. They should try there first.

[BlueTsunami2018]

3. You can lead a horse to water.....

Some people just don’t want to help themselves.

[MichMan]

4. When you get trounced that bad, you need to just go back and regroup

Union organizers seriously miscalculated their level of support on this one Sometimes you just have to admit your message wasn't received and you got trounced

[JohnSJ]

13. I think so too. In Mississippi they tried to unionize Nissan a few years ago,

and it failed miserably also.

[bluestarone]

5. I'm betting this co. went full speed ahead and did EVERYTHING in their power, (illegal or legal)

To win this. (by cheating) I hope the strong union people are ready for the co. BACKLASH!! They will spend MILLIONS in back wages to stop the strong union people! Even fire and black list them. I've seen this done! I hope the union wins this court battle coming up!

[George II]

9. This was probably the most scrutinized union vote in decades, and it was supervised by....

....the NLRB. I seriously doubt that there were any shenanigans. I don't know about Alabama's laws, but the Federal government has serious and strong labor wars against retaliation.

[bluestarone]

11. We'll see

I say the CO. pulled all kinds of crap. (BEFORE the election i might add)

[former9thward]

6. This is union face saving.

This election was run and monitored from start to finish by the National Labor Relations Board. Everyone was involved and watching from President Biden on down. The vote was not even close.

[George II]

10. Precisely. The most scrutinized union vote in a long time....

Might we be hearing that the vote was "rigged" sometime soon?

[JohnSJ]

14. exactly, and it may have the opposite effect of "face-saving".

[TheRickles]

15. Here's a good analysis of the strategic and tactical errors made by the union organizers.

Amazon is skilled at union-busting. This is how they did it: https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/bessemer-alabama-amazon-union/

[VarryOn]

16. The union obviously was trying to insert itself...

Where there wasn't a demand. Despite the occasional anti-Amazon anecdote, employees (at least, in Alabama) are satisfied with their situation.

Personally, I'd rather deal with my management directly than outsource to a third party who demands a "cut."

[LiberalFighter]

17. Employers should not be allowed to interfere.

It is an organization that is not funded by them nor does it allow them to be a member.

[twodogsbarking]

18. The devil you know

vs. the devil you don't.

[extvbroadcaster]

19. I went through this

Years ago I was involved in a failed union organizing effort. I understand those voting no. Why should they have a union? Doesn't a union just protect the worthless and lazy? They believe in the system, and that it will work for them. They will show up on time, work hard. They will be treated fairly and will be rewarded. Or that is how it is supposed to work. Only when they show up on time, work hard, and get nothing do they understand the benefits of union representation and collective bargaining. The company wants employment to be a simple proposition. Do what you are told, take what we give you, and shut up. If you don't like it, leave. I'm retired now, but every place I have ever worked there are people with the "how the company screwed me" stories. They found out the hard way that no matter how loyal they were, the company was not their friend. The Amazon workers will find that out too, like many before them.