Photo: Activists rally in Detroit in support of the Bessemer Amazon workers’ struggle. Liberation photo: Jason Tschantre
Yesterday news broke regarding the loss of the union vote at the BHM1 Amazon fulfillment center in Bessemer, Alabama. Despite the loss, the workers have vowed to continue the movement and to file objections and Unfair Labor Practices complaints against Amazon’s illegal meddling in what should have been a fair process and decision made by the workers alone. There are many possible outcomes including potential for a re-election as a result of Amazon’s violations. The objection process could begin as early as next week.
Warrior Met coal miners in Alabama defeat UMWA sellout, continue strike
Striking coal miners in central Alabama on Friday voted 1,006 to 45 in an overwhelming repudiation of the efforts by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) to impose a pro-company contract on 1,100 workers at Warrior Met Coal.
The miners are continuing their strike, which began on April 1, to win back concessions accepted by the UMWA five years ago. In doing so, they are defying the company’s strikebreaking operation, intimidation by Alabama state troopers and the sabotage of the UMWA.
During informational meetings Wednesday, rank-and-file miners shouted down UMWA President Cecil Roberts and denounced him as a sellout for agreeing to a five-year deal which restored only $1.50 out of the $6-an-hour pay cut workers suffered in 2016. The company’s brutal disciplinary policy, which has resulted in countless unjust terminations, would have been kept in place under the deal, only with six strikes before dismi
Alabama Amazon unionization fight ends in defeat for labor organizers
Updated Apr 09, 1:36 PM;
Posted Apr 09, 1:36 PM
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Amazon appears to have beaten back its biggest challenge from organized labor in more than a decade, following the union vote at its Bessemer fulfillment center.
At 10:25 a.m., the no votes against unionization reached 1,798. Yes votes for the union are at 738, unofficially. The unionization effort has been defeated.
There were 505 challenged ballots and 76 voided ballots. “Challenges are not sufficient in number to affect the results of this election,” an NLRB official said at the end of the count.
The no votes account for more than half of the total of 3,215 ballots that were received by the National Labor Relations Board in the election. According to the NLRB, 5,867 ballots were sent out to workers in early February.
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union has vowed to file objections.
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Catch up on the developing stories making headlines.Jay Reeves/AP
In what many view as a blow to the organized labor movement, Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama have voted not to form a labor union.
Of the some 3,117 votes cast in the closely-watched union election, a total of 1,798 votes were against unionization, compared to 738 in favor of it, according to the National Labor Relations Board. Even accounting for the 505 challenged ballots, Amazon has cinched enough no votes to defeat the organizing efforts.
Blowout in Bessemer: A Postmortem on the Amazon Campaign thenation.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenation.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.