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Breaking: Staten Island Amazon Warehouse Workers Vote to Unionize


To call this a breaking (and noteworthy) story is an understatement…notwithstanding the fact that this week’s “What I’ve Been Reading Post” focused on labor unions.  With a 2,654 - 2,131 vote, Staten Island Amazon warehouse workers have voted to become the first unionized U.S. workplace at the company.

Leading into the vote, both supporters and opponents of the unionization effort ramped up efforts to support their cause.  Readers will recall that while unionization efforts have taken off at Starbucks in recent months, the successful unionization of this Staten Island warehouse was not a foregone conclusion. In fact, many thought that following the resounding defeat at the Bessemer, Alabama Amazon warehouse last year, labor advocates would be pleased with simply a good showing in Staten Island.  I was one of those who subscribed to the theory that a successful unionization vote probably was not in the cards.

While the 2,654 - 2,131 vote was not a slam dunk in any sense of the word, it is noteworthy in so much that the margin of victory was large enough that the approximately 67 ballots that are being contested will not change the outcome of the vote.  This means that even if all of the contested ballots are thrown out or put in the “no” category in regard to unionization, the 2,654 votes approving unionization will still carry the day.  Of course, Amazon could still seek to challenge the results and file an unfair labor practice charge in an effort to throw out these results and have a second election held (which is what is occurring in Bessemer, Alabama.)

After the National Labor Relations Board certifies the results (which should occur without any hiccups), the nearly 8,000 workers at this Staten Island warehouse will have the Amazon Labor Union (“ALU”) negotiating and bargaining on their behalf with Amazon.  The ALU has indicated it intends to seek better pay for the warehouse workers, better job protections, and improved health and safety policies in the workplace.

The question is will other Amazon warehouse workers follow suit and approve unionization efforts?  Time will tell.  Although it is important to note that voting had already finished at the Bessemer, Alabama warehouse before the results were announced out of Staten Island.  As a result, the successful unionization of the Staten Island warehouse should not have any impact (one way or the other) in regard to how the Bessemer vote plays out.


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