Workers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, New York filed for a union election Wednesday. This marked the second warehouse to file for unionization in the area.
According to Vice’s Lauren Kaori Gurley, roughly 1,500 people work at LDJ5, an Amazon sorting center. If the filing is accepted by the National Labor Relations Board, the warehouse will be added to the Staten Island Amazon fulfillment center JFK8 in securing a union electionFor representation withAmazon Labor Union
“This is an amazing moment in history, seeing Amazon workers finally taking the brave steps to make their voices heard,” Amazon Labor Union wroteFollow us on Twitter.
JFK8 workers had filed for unionization in December. They believed that their petition had enough valid signatures to vote for unionization after months-long organizing. Amazon contacted NLRB to inform them that there were 4,100 more workers in the country than the union organizers believed. They then decided to withdraw their petition.
Organizers disputed the count several weeks later. the NLRBThe worker petition was not signed enough and was granted a hearing in February. Christian Smalls, the union leader and organizer, was elected to the hearing. was firedIn 2020 while organizing an out-of-town walkout, told Bloomberg that he is confident JFK8’s union vote will be successful.
JFK8’s filing comes just two days before the union election for Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, which is slated to begin on February 4. This will be The second timeBessemer workers are eligible to vote in the union. Last year, the NLRB found that Bessemer had illegally interfered in the union election and ruled that workers should be allowed to rerun the election.
Organizers and NLRB had a particular problem with a mailbox placed outside of the Bessemer warehouse where ballots could be turned in. The mailbox, which is monitored by cameras, was criticized by the NLRB. still presentWarehouse grounds. Workers also had reportedManagers interrogating them about whether they have voted yet.
According to the compromised vote count, Bessemer workers resoundingly rejected the union last year – but organizers say that this union drive will be different.
“The reason why I think it’s going to be different this time around is just by the sheer fact that a lot of us are showing that we are committed to forming our union,” organizer and Amazon worker Isaiah Thomas told More Perfect Union. “A lot of us are showing that regardless of the things they throw our way, whether it be the turnover rate, or whether it be the mandatory anti-union meetings, or whether it be surveillance, we’re going to stick together.”
Thomas filed two grievances against Amazon with the NLRBLast month, Thomas stated that the company tried disciplining him for speaking to colleagues about the union, an action that could be illegal. Thomas claimed that he was also subject to increased surveillance by the company.
Organisers believe that the second election could see a higher turnout, as some workers may have been misinformed last year. Since then, pro-union workers have been bolder in speaking up during management’s union-busting meetings, which has “done wonders,” Clint Shiflett told More Perfect Union. “That has really helped to shift the attitude towards the union.”
Though neither of Staten Island’s elections have started yet, the company currently faces charges of illegal union busting in the JFK8 campaign. Last week, the NLRB alleged that Amazon illegally spied on, interrogated and threatened employees organizing. According to the NLRB, one representative referred to union organizers as “thugs,” a racist term, and said that their effort was destined to fail.
