Union files objections to Amazon’s actions in Bessemer, AL election

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (or RWDSU) has objected to the National Labor Relations Board, saying that Amazon interfered with its election in Alabama.

In a press release, the union alleges that the company threatened an employee with plant closing if the union was voted in and that it barred employees from posting pro-union literature. The union wants a hearing with the National Labor Relations Board to determine if the results of the second election should be set aside and a new election held.

The complaint is about Amazon's behavior during the union election that ended last month. There were over 400 challenged ballots and the final outcome of the election is not known. The outcome depends on a hearing that hasn't been scheduled.

After the RWDSU lost a previous election by a small margin last year, the election was held again. The first election in Bessemer was interfered with by Amazon and they ordered a new one.

Stuart Appelbaum, president of the RWDSU, said in a statement: "We urge the NLRB to carefully review our objections and ensure no company, not even with the bottomless pockets of Amazon, is allowed to act above the law."

Amazon didn't reply immediately to the request for comment.

Outside of Bessemer, Amazon has faced similar accusations. In January, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against Amazon, saying it threatened, surveilled, and intimidated workers during the Staten Island union drive, as well as preventing organizers from distributing literature. The company is being sued by the agency for firing an Amazon labor union leader.

On Thursday, Amazon said it intended to object to the Amazon Labor Union's win in New York and that the results of both Amazon unionization elections are currently being challenged. Workers at Amazon's JFK8 warehouse voted to unionize, 2,654 to 2,131.