Amazon worker organization

The warehouse workers of Amazon, the largest American e-commerce retailer, have organized for workplace improvements in light of the company's scrutinized labor practices and stance against unions. While some Amazon warehouses are unionized in Europe, none are unionized in the United States. Worker actions have included work stoppages and have won concessions including increased pay, safety precautions, and time off.

Background
Inside an Amazon warehouse in Maryland
Main article: Criticism of Amazon § Treatment of workers

As the largest American e-commerce retailer, employing over one million workers, and rapidly expanding, Amazon's warehouse labor practices have been subject to continued scrutiny, with reporting on work conditions, rising injury rates, worker surveillance, and efforts to block unionization.[1][2][3] In the late 2010s, Amazon began to address warehouse wages and training opportunities.[4] Even with increasing its minimum wage to $15/hour and providing healthcare benefits and COVID-19 testing, labor advocates and government officials have criticized Amazon's warehouse working conditions.[5] While unions are common among Amazon warehouse workers in Europe, none of Amazon's American workers are unionized.[6][7] Amazon has actively opposed unionization in the United States,[6] having stated a preference to resolve issues with employees directly[7] and that unions would impede their company's innovation.[8] Prior to the 2020 Bessemer union drive, Amazon had not faced a major union vote in the United States since Delaware in 2014.[6]

United States

Technical Amazon workers held the company's first unionization vote in the United States in January 2014, which failed 21 to 6. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) held the vote following a December petition from International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on behalf of 30 Amazon warehouse maintenance and repair workers in Middletown, Delaware.[9]

Amazon workers protest in Minnesota, 2018

Throughout the late 2010s, warehouses in Staten Island and Minnesota participated in union drives and bargaining. Workers organized for work conditions in particular, such as need for more frequent breaks. Workers have leaked Amazon manager training videos about discouraging labor organization. In response to changes following Amazon's 2017 acquisition of grocery Whole Foods, workers began to organize as Whole Worker.[10] The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union began to organize 2,500 workers from Amazon's Staten Island warehouse in December 2018, but this did not result in a union vote.[7][5]

When other businesses shut down during COVID-19 pandemic safety measures, the welfare and salary of workers ensuring the delivery of goods, including Amazon's labor, received renewed attention.[5] Amazon workers, amid increased demand, advocated for pay increases and safety measures through work stoppage including walkouts and not appearing for work.[2] Amazon increased pay for warehouse, transportation, delivery, and store workers and increased paid time off. Some workers described these concessions as a minimum for convincing employees to risk working during the pandemic.[4] In December 2020, the National Labor Relations Board found merit to a complaint that a Staten Island warehouse worker's firing was an illegal retaliation for organizing for pandemic safety procedure.[5]

Bessemer union drive

In November 2020, Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold a unionization vote. The bargaining unit would include 1,500 full-time and part-time employees with representation from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.[11] Amazon retained anti-union lawyers Morgan, Lewis & Bockius to fight the effort. Amazon had previously used the firm to successfully fight the 2014 unionization effort of Delaware warehouse workers.[12] The NLRB denied the company's request to delay initial hearings.[12] Amazon recommended expanding the bargaining unit to 5,700 workers, and in a three-day NLRB hearing, lawyers from Amazon and the union established a broader bargaining unit membership than originally proposed, including seasonal hires and on-site medical, safety, and training workers.[6] These were common tactics to discourage unionization, as a larger bargaining unit would dilute the union's penetration, having only organized a portion of the originally proposed, smaller unit.[12] The union accepted the expanded unit to let the vote proceed sooner.[5] The voting process officially began with mail-in ballots sent out on February 8, 2021 after the NLRB rejected Amazon's attempt to delay the vote.[13] Ballots must be returned by March 29.[14]

Europe

Some Amazon warehouses are unionized in Europe,[6] where Amazon and other American technology companies with philosophies against organized labor are scrutinized and counter to European norms. European criticism of Amazon's labor practices exceeds that of its practices in the United States. The very first collective bargaining agreement between Amazon and a trade union was signed on May 22, 2018 between Amazon and the Italian Filcams Cgil trade union, after 70% of those who voted in favor.[15][16]

In France during the COVID-19 pandemic, unions were involved in setting the terms of warehouse workers returning to work, including pandemic protections for workers, following a month-long dispute. Those who volunteered to return sooner, in a reduced capacity, received bonus pay and a reduced work day.[17]

Germany

Germany is Amazon's largest foreign market as of 2019.[18][19] Amazon opened its first German logistic center in 1999 (FRA1) followed by FRA3 in 2009 in Bad Hersfeld.[20] Hundreds of Amazon warehouse workers in Leipzig and Bad Hersfeld, organized by the trade union Ver.di went on strike in 2013 over their worker classifications and salaries. Amazon subsequently improved overtime schedules, break rooms, and introduced Christmas bonuses.[8][21][22] Amazon Germany also confirmed it would be opening three logistics centers in Poland.[21][23]

Poland

Amazon opened its first logistics centers near the Polish cities Poznan and Wroclaw in September 2014. While operating in Poland, they primarily serve foreign markets, notably Germany.[24] There are two trade unions involved in organizing Amazon workers. The more militant union is Inicjatywa Pracownicza (Workers' Initiative) is active in Poznan. They are criticized by the more mainstream and established Polish union Solidarność (which is affiliated with UNI Global Union) as being 'too radical'.[24][25] During a German strike in 2015, due to Poland's geographic proximity to Germany, orders shifted and increased in Poland. Several dozen workers in Poznan facility engaged in a work slowdown. Shortly afterwards, Amazon increased the hourly wage by one zloty.[25]

References
  1. Lecher, Colin (December 29, 2020). "Amazon's 2020 Was a Banner Year for Profits—and for Criticism". The Markup. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  2. Newton, Casey (April 1, 2020). "Amazon's poor treatment of workers is catching up to it during the coronavirus crisis". The Verge. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  3. Matsakis, Louise (October 2, 2018). "Why Amazon Really Raised Its Minimum Wage to $15". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028.
  4. Mattioli, Dana; Herrera, Sebastian (March 31, 2020). "Amazon Struggles to Find Its Coronavirus Footing. 'It's a Time of Great Stress.'". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Amazon, which is responsible for more than one-third of e-commerce volumes in the U.S., has long faced complaints from warehouse workers about working conditions and their position in the employee hierarchy. The company, which is the nation’s second-largest employer, in recent years has taken steps to boost hourly wages and improve employee-training opportunities.
  5. Corkery, Michael; Weise, Karen (December 22, 2020). "Amazon Workers Near Vote on Joining Union at Alabama Warehouse". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  6. Palmer, Annie (December 22, 2020). "Amazon moves closer to facing its first unionization vote in six years". CNBC. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  7. Kitroeff, Natalie (February 15, 2019). "Amazon and New York Unions Had 'Productive Meeting,' Then Came a Shock". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  8. Wingfield, Nick; Eddy, Melissa (August 4, 2013). "In Germany, Union Culture Clashes With Amazon's Labor Practices". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  9. Greenhouse, Steven (January 16, 2014). "Workers at an Amazon Warehouse Reject Forming a Union". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  10. Sainato, Michael (January 1, 2019). "'We are not robots': Amazon warehouse employees push to unionize". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  11. Greene, Jay (November 23, 2020). "Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama file to hold unionization vote". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  12. Greene, Jay (December 2, 2020). "Amazon effort to thwart Alabama union drive suffers early defeat at labor board". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on December 6, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  13. Slotkin, Jason (February 7, 2021). "In Alabama, Workers At Amazon Warehouse Are Poised For Union Vote". National Public Radio . Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  14. Dzieza, Josh (February 8, 2021). "Alabama warehouse workers prepare to face down Amazon in union vote". The Verge. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  15. Walker, Michael. "Tech innovators start to see old-fashioned benefits of collective bargaining". The Conversation. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  16. "Historic agreement between Amazon and sector unions". UNI Global Union. May 25, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  17. Rosemain, Mathieu (May 18, 2020). "Amazon's French warehouses to reopen with 30% staff - unions". Reuters.
  18. Dobush, Grace (July 11, 2018). "How Amazon is steamrolling Germany's retail market". Handelsblatt. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  19. Mishra, Digbijay (August 29, 2019). "In 4 years, India will be one of the biggest markets for Amazon - Latest News | Gadgets Now". Gadget Now. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  20. "Bad Hersfeld, Germany". amazon.jobs. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  21. "German Amazon workers strike in long-running dispute over pay". the Guardian. November 25, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  22. Bryant, Chris (April 5, 2013). "Amazon workers in Leipzig vote to strike". Financial Times. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  23. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Online retailer Amazon to open three facilities in Poland | DW | 07.10.2013". DW.COM. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  24. Ruckus, Ralf (March 31, 2016). "Confronting Amazon". Jacobin Magazine. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  25. Alimahomed-Wilson, Jake; Ness, Immanuel, eds. (2018). Choke Points: Logistics Workers Disrupting the Global Supply Chain. Pluto Press. ISBN 9781786802347. Retrieved January 1, 2021.

Further reading
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