Amazon illegally interfered in Alabama warehouse election, union alleges
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union filed objections with federal labor officials alleging Amazon illegally interfered with a closely watched union drive at one of its Alabama warehouses.
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union late Friday filed objections to the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Amazon of interfering in the closely watched union campaign held earlier this month at the company's Bessemer, Alabama, warehouse. Bessemer employees, with fewer than 30% of the votes tallied in favor of joining the RWDSU.
The union alleges in the filing that Amazon sent multiple messages to workers threatening widespread layoffs and even possibly closing the facility if they voted for the union. Additionally, Amazon told workers that voting for the union could lead to a loss of benefits and potentially their pay rate, particularly if the union decides to go on strike, the RWDSU said. Two Bessemer employeesSeveral of these actions had a "chilling effect on support for the union," the RWDSU said.
During the seven-week mail-in election, Amazon directed employees to submit their ballots via the mailbox, with a sign on a tent surrounding it reading, "Speak for yourself! Mail your ballot here." Emails obtained by the RWDSU via a Freedom of Information Act request showed Amazon pressured the U.S. Postal Service to place the mailbox outside the facility in the weeks leading up to the vote.
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