ToplineA National Labor Relations Board staffer suggested scrapping the results and holding another election because of alleged labor law violations, months after Amazon beat a highly publicized bid to unionize an Alabama warehouse.On March 26, 2021, voting signs were displayed outside the Amazon fulfillment centre in Bessemer (Alabama). AFP via Getty ImagesThe Key FactsAfter objections from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union and accusations that Amazon intimidated staff into voting yes, an NLRB hearing officer recommended the NLRB to end the unionization drives' decisive April election loss Monday. The decision about how to proceed will now be made by the NLRBs Atlanta regional director. Forbes reached out to NLRB for comments.Important QuoteAmazon's conduct during the election was abominable. Amazon cheated and were caught. They are now being held responsible, RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum stated in a Monday statement.ContraAmazon stated in a Forbes statement that it will appeal any rulings. The employees had the opportunity to speak out during the noisy national debate. At the end of it all, they voted in favor of direct contact with their managers and company officials, Amazon stated.Big Number70% This is the percentage of Amazon's warehouse workers in Bessemer (Ala.) who voted against unionization in April. It is large enough to allow Amazon to win even if there are more than 500 contested ballots.Important BackgroundRWDSU hopes that Amazon's fulfillment center in Bessemer (a suburb of Birmingham) will become the first unionized warehouse in America. Amazon's working conditions have been criticized by union supporters. They claim that Amazon's drive for efficiency has resulted in inhumane treatment of safety issues and unsafe working conditions. However, Amazon forced workers to vote against the plan and vigorously addressed public complaints about its poor working standards. RWDSU protested the election results and claimed that Amazon threatened workers with closures, layoffs, and the loss of benefits if it succeeded in unionization. Amazon has denied any allegations of intimidation.TangentCelebrities and politicians paid attention to the Bessmer unionization effort. Sens. Both Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), publicly supported the organizing effort. Some observers saw the contentious struggle to unionize the largest private employer in the United States as a sign of similar organizing campaigns across the country.
