by Al Brown, The Chicago Times
March 31, 2022
BESSEMER, AL – It appears that Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama have rejected unionization attempts this Thursday with a vote 993 to 875 against forming a union. However, the National Labor Relations Board stated that 416 challenged votes could overturn the decision.
According to Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, “This is just the beginning and we will continue to fight. Regardless of the final outcome, workers have shown what is possible. They have helped ignite a movement.”
Appelbaum has instructed RWDSU lawyers to file objections to how Amazon conducted the election. The RWDSU was founded in 1937 and represents some 60,000 laborers in retail, grocery stores, food processing plants, hotels, and the public sector. The RWDSU has allegedly been connected with various communist activists and provocateur throughout its history.
Amazon has fought hard to resist unionization since it would lead to higher costs for consumers. Amazon workers were provided with training sessions depicting the ills of unions, which often impose heavy mandatory member dues and actively push companies into an adversarial relationship with workers. Amazon currently offers workers health care, 401(k) plans, and an opportunity to participate in a prepaid college tuition program. In a statement, an Amazon spokesman said “As a company, we don’t think unions are the best answer for our employees. Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work.”
Alabama is currently a right-to-work state in which workers can not be forced to join a labor union.
The Chicago Times 