The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) completed a vote count today in an election involving employees at Amazon’s facility in Bessemer, Alabama. There were approximately 3,041 employees who mailed in ballots indicating whether they want to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. In a clear setback for unions, and what critics say are inhuman working conditions, challenges are not sufficient in number to affect the results of the election. More than twice as many employees voted against the union than those who voted for it. The AFL-CIO and GBAO had released earlier this week a nationwide poll of registered voters that found more than three-quarters of Americans support workers’ efforts to organize a union at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama.
A majority of the valid votes counted, plus challenged ballots has not been cast for the petitioner, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The parties have five business days to file objections contesting the conduct or results of the election. The ballot count was conducted by NLRB Region 10 employees at the Birmingham, Alabama, Resident Office.
“The workers who sought membership in RWDSU are at the vanguard of a surging movement for workplace democracy. Americans want to organize unions, and it should never be this hard to do so,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the union vote.
“Amazon’s outrageous behavior is only the latest reminder that our rights have been steadily eroded by a handful of powerful elites. We can’t allow this societal failure to deprive one more worker of the freedom to organize. This is the fight of our time, and it starts with passing the PRO Act,” said Trumka.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
NLRB Announces Union Loss in Amazon Election
A majority of the valid votes counted, plus challenged ballots has not been cast for the petitioner, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The parties have five business days to file objections contesting the conduct or results of the election. The ballot count was conducted by NLRB Region 10 employees at the Birmingham, Alabama, Resident Office.
“The workers who sought membership in RWDSU are at the vanguard of a surging movement for workplace democracy. Americans want to organize unions, and it should never be this hard to do so,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the union vote.
“Amazon’s outrageous behavior is only the latest reminder that our rights have been steadily eroded by a handful of powerful elites. We can’t allow this societal failure to deprive one more worker of the freedom to organize. This is the fight of our time, and it starts with passing the PRO Act,” said Trumka.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.