The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (or RWDSU) has filed an appeal against Amazon with the National Labor Relations Board, saying the company again interfered in its election in Bessemer, Alabama (via CNBC).
In a press release, the union alleges the company “threatened to shut down an employee if the union were elected,” banned employees from posting pro-union literature, and “engaged in monitoring and/or appeared to monitor workers on protected sites.” involved in concerted activities”, among many other things. The union is asking the NLRB to hold a hearing on their objections to determine whether to overturn the results of the second Bessemer election and hold a new election.
The complaint, which you can read in full below, concerns Amazon’s behavior during the union elections that ended last month. The final result of this election is not known at this time – while the votes were counted 993 to 875 against unionization, there were over 400 contested ballots. Therefore, the outcome depends on a hearing that has not yet been scheduled.
These allegations are well known
The election, which is now being contested, was held as a replay after RWDSU lost a previous election by a narrow two-to-one last year. The NLRB determined that Amazon had interfered with the first election in Bessemer and ordered a new one.
In a statement, RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum said, “We urge the NLRB to carefully consider our objections and ensure that no company, even with the bottomless pockets of Amazon, can be allowed to stand above the law.”
Amazon did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
Amazon has faced similar allegations outside of Bessemer. In January, the NLRB filed a complaint against Amazon, saying it threatened, monitored and intimidated workers and prevented organizers from distributing literature during the Staten Island union campaign. The agency is also suing the company over the firing of Amazon Labor Union organizer Gerald Bryson and is trying to end the practice of “captive audience” meetings.
That means the results of both Amazon’s unionization elections are currently being contested — on Thursday, Amazon said it intends to appeal the Amazon Labor Union’s victory in New York. The result of this election was far more decisive; Workers at Amazon warehouse JFK8 voted 2,654 to 2,131 to organize.