We have a positive update on
the efforts to unionize in
Bessemer, Alabama, what we thought
the Federal election was over.
These are of course Amazon
warehouse workers in Bessemer,
Alabama, they held a vote to see
whether they had enough employees
who were willing to unionize, and
that vote failed.
However, the National Labor
Relations Board has weighed in on
this, and
it seems like the workers might
have another opportunity to vote.
So let me give you the details on
what we know so far.
A hearing officer for the National
Labor Relations Board found by
Amazon illegally discouraged
organizing at an Alabama warehouse.
Of course, this is the Bessemer,
Alabama warehouse.
The officer has recommended that
the board throw out the union
election at an Amazon warehouse in
Bessemer, Alabama, where the
results announced in early April
showed workers rejecting a union by
more than a two-to-one ratio.
Now, why did this recommendation
come forth,
like where's it coming from?
Well, it turns out and
we knew this, the higher ups at
this warehouse were essentially
intimidating the workers there,
trying to discourage them from
unionizing.
And they may have broken some
pretty serious laws in doing so.
The union objection contended that
Amazon consultants and employee
relations managers had created an
atmosphere of fear by identifying
and removing workers from mandatory
anti-union meetings if they
questioned company officials, and
by telling employees they risked
losing pay, benefits, or even their
jobs if the union was established.
Yes, even in Alabama that doesn't
have as many worker protections as
states like California,
for instance,
there are some protections and what
the employers did in this case,
does break the rules.
So, as a result of these actions,
it appears that, if the National
Labor Relations Board overall
excepts this recommendation, they
could throw out that vote and allow
for another vote to take place.
>> Yeah look I want to keep your
expectation tempered here for
factual reasons.
So this is just the first layer
of it, there are several layers to
go and especially the first layer
the National Labor Relations Board
is more likely to support workers
in unions, and that's overall in
the country a good thing, right?
But it is not a hugely surprising
result.
And they do have several more
layers that they're going to go
through that has a higher chance of
reversing this initial ruling here.
But you got to be encouraged that
they won in
the first layer, >> Right.
>> And they are going to keep going
and obviously that means they had
good evidence or
some evidence to warrant that.
>> Now, let me also just note that
first off Amazon can appeal
the decision, so yes,
there will be a back and forth.
But also
the National Labor Relations Board
is not pro worker no matter what.
Under the Trump administration,
remember the administration gets
to appoint people who serve on
the NLRB.
And so Biden,
luckily did appoint individuals who
are certainly far more friendly to
workers compared to individuals
that Trump appointed.
So that's some good news.
But we'll see how this plays out,
we'll definitely stay on the story
and update you as we learn more,
but this is a good sign,
it means that all hope is not lost
in the Bessemer,
Alabama, unionization effort.