Amazon Workers Push for Unions in the US

Critics of the online retail superpower have condemned it for violating its employee’s labor rights (Flickr)

With ballots due to the National Labor Relations Board on March 29, workers’ rights organizers in Bessemer, Alabama are making the final push to promote the formation of the first union for Amazon workers in the United States. Approximately 5,800 employees are eligible to vote, and the decision to unionize will be made by a simple majority of submitted ballots.

The vote for unionization has been backed by major U.S. politicians. The most notable endorsement was by President Joe Biden who referenced the push in Alabama—though without naming Amazon directly—by saying, “Unions put power in the hands of workers. They level the playing field. They give you a stronger voice, for your health, your safety, higher wages, protections from racial discrimination and sexual harassment.” Senator Bernie Sanders and Marco Rubio have also supported the effort. Outside groups that have supported the effort include the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), Black Lives Matter, and the Southern Workers Assembly. 

Amazon has pushed against these efforts by emphasizing workplace benefits, stating that the Bessemer warehouse has “created more than 5,000 full-time jobs in Bessemer, with starting pay of $15.30 per hour, including full healthcare.” The e-commerce giant has also been lashing out at union advocates and denying stories that workers have been sharing on social media. Bessemer warehouse workers have also complained about the constant campaigning by Amazon, with a pro-union worker stating, “I feel like I’m getting harassed.”

While the push to unionize Amazon workers would serve as a major turning point for both the company and the current United States labor movement, Amazon workers around the world have been unionized for much longer. Due to lower barriers of entry and more widespread union membership, Amazon unions are prevalent in Spain, France, Germany, and Italy. According to the Washington Post, “In many European countries, Amazon workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements that apply to whole sectors of the economy—meaning that Amazon has to meet certain minimum standards that apply to all e-commerce companies, or all retailers.”

Governments abroad have also offered more amicable protection to workers in the pandemic, with a French court ordering a ban in April on warehouse operations following reports of Amazon insufficiently protecting its workers. Amazon unions in Italy also organized a nationwide one-day strike on March 22. Nevertheless, Amazon continues to resist these efforts both domestically and abroad.