The latest update from the Amazon warehouse in North Carolina shows that workers have voted against unionizing. This decision follows a trend where many employees of the company have chosen not to pursue union representation.
The National Labor Relations Board disclosed that approximately three-quarters of the workforce at the Amazon fulfillment center in Garner, situated near Raleigh, rejected the proposal to join Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, a grassroots labor organization. Among the eligible 4,300 Amazon workers, 2,447 voted against union representation, while 829 cast their ballots in favor of joining the independent union, which consists of former and current Amazon employees. The voting process took place from Monday to Saturday.
Rev. Ryan Brown, a co-founder of the group and a former Amazon employee, expressed their preparedness for a potential loss. Brown highlighted the challenges faced, mentioning the regional context in the South and the lack of awareness regarding the benefits of unions among North Carolina workers.
This development comes shortly after an affirmative unionization vote at a Whole Foods Market store in Pennsylvania, marking the initial successful introduction of organized labor into the grocery chain owned by Amazon. Subsequent to this victory, Whole Foods disputed the election results, citing concerns about the integrity of the voting process.
In a separate instance, workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York, unionized in 2022 with the Amazon Labor Union, in collaboration with the Teamsters. Despite this, Amazon has contested the election outcome and declined negotiations for a contract. Notably, the company has managed to thwart union victories at another Staten Island warehouse, as well as at facilities in Albany, New York, and Bessemer, Alabama.
In November, an administrative law judge from the NLRB ordered a third union election for Amazon warehouse employees in Bessemer, following six violations by the company leading up to a rerun election in March 2022. The rerun was triggered by objections from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, aiming to represent Amazon workers in Bessemer, after the initial election resulted in a loss for the union.
Workers affiliated with Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE) have been actively organizing at the North Carolina warehouse since January 2022. Brown, the co-founder, mentioned concerns about worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic as a driving force behind the organizing efforts.
Responding to the outcome, Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards emphasized that the company already provides what many unions advocate for, including safe work environments, competitive wages, and inclusivity. Hards expressed satisfaction with the workers at the Garner site opting to maintain a direct relationship with Amazon.
