Amazon.com Inc on Friday known as for an election re-run after staff at a New York Metropolis warehouse voted to create the corporate’s first U.S. union, saying that the U.S. labor board and worker-organizers suppressed turnout.
The Amazon Labor Union (ALU) rejected the allegations made by the net retailer that’s the second-largest U.S. non-public employer.
Amazon made its demand every week after the landmark victory for organized labor, which for years has sought to supply protections to staff on the firm. Some 55% of staff who voted from Amazon’s JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island opted to hitch the ALU, which has argued for larger pay and job safety. Turnout was about 58%.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated in an announcement: “We wish our staff to have their voices heard, and on this case, that did not occur – fewer than a 3rd of the staff on the website voted for the union.”
Amazon additionally accused the ALU of intimidating staff and distributing marijuana to achieve votes in its favor, in line with an organization submitting on Friday.
Derrick Palmer, vice chairman of the ALU, stated Amazon is attempting to “demean our character and undermine our efforts.”
The U.S. Nationwide Labor Relations Board (NLRB) now should course of Amazon’s objections earlier than certifying the election end result. The timing for this was not instantly clear.
In its submitting, Amazon stated the NLRB improperly helped the ALU achieve standing to carry an election and created the impression that it supported the union. Amazon additionally accused the NLRB of hampering turnout by mismanagement within the polling space and by permitting digicam crews on website that scared away voters.
An NLRB spokesperson declined to touch upon these objections however the board has stated beforehand that it’s impartial and that its enforcement actions towards Amazon have been in line with its congressional mandate.
The ALU pushed again towards Amazon’s claims, saying the corporate didn’t contest low turnout in a previous union election in Alabama during which staff voted towards organizing. The ALU stated it was Amazon that had intimidated staff, and the union has filed dozens of unfair labor follow expenses towards the corporate.
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