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Take Two? NLRB Report Recommends Second Election at Amazon Location


Readers will likely recall the union election that occurred at an Amazon location in Bessemer, Alabama a few months ago in which workers voted overwhelmingly to reject unionization efforts.  That resounding defeat of the union was a major blow to those that hoped the unionization of the Amazon location would signal the start of an upswing in unionization across the country.

Following the results of the election being announced, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (which had sought to represent the workers) filed objections with the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) on the grounds that Amazon had engaged in unlawful union busting activities leading up to the election and therefore a second election should occur.  Well, that just might happen.  An NLRB hearing officer issued a report and held that the objections should be sustained on the grounds that Amazon had engaged in unlawful behavior by placing a mailbox to collect ballots on the grounds at the warehouse (with a camera allegedly focused on the mailbox) and dispersing “vote no” paraphernalia.  The report recommended that a second election take place as a result of these alleged unlawful actions by Amazon.

In response, Amazon has maintained that it did nothing wrong and stated it would appeal any ruling that ordered a second election.  In regard to the placement of a mailbox on the grounds at the warehouse, Amazon has argued this was done to make it easier for workers to submit their ballots.  As for any “vote no” paraphernalia, Amazon has suggested that nothing was improper about its attempts to educate its workers ahead of the election.

This will not be the last time we hear about this matter.  Stay tuned.


For additional information:  https://abcnews.go.com/Business/alabama-amazon-workers-union-election-rerun-nlrb-officials/story?id=79263191

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