Amazon Challenges Union Vote: Latest Updates

Amazon's Contentious PR Strategy Amid Union Vote

This week has seen Amazon engage in a notably unusual public relations campaign. As key competitors prepared to testify before Congress, the company’s CEO of worldwide consumer business offered a suggestion that Amazon not only aligns with the principles of democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, but surpasses him in effectively implementing those policies.

Clark's Tweet and Subsequent Reaction

Prior to Senator Sanders’ planned visit to Amazon’s fulfillment center in Bessemer, Alabama, Dave Clark posted on Twitter, expressing a welcome to Sanders and acknowledging his advocacy for a progressive workplace. Clark asserted that Amazon effectively embodies a progressive work environment, even exceeding Sanders’ own standards.

https://twitter.com/davehclark/status/1374853182484963332

This statement predictably drew criticism from labor organizations. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) provided TechCrunch with a detailed response from president Stuart Appelbaum, challenging the assertion.

RWDSU's Response and Concerns

The RWDSU, which is supporting the union vote in Bessemer, highlighted issues such as high employee turnover and reductions in pay during the pandemic. They also pointed to the substantial increase in founder Jeff Bezos’s wealth during 2020, a period when Amazon employees were deemed essential workers.

Amazon’s head of worldwide communications, Drew Herdener, countered these claims, stating that the company offers starting wages of $15 or more, comprehensive healthcare benefits, and a secure and inclusive work environment. He encouraged all employees to participate in the voting process.

Amazon's Role During the Pandemic

For many consumers, Amazon’s delivery services were crucial during the pandemic, as brick-and-mortar stores were forced to close. The Bessemer facility commenced operations on March 29th, coinciding with the initial surge of COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

The company anticipated potential disruptions to its operations as a growing number of Americans were compelled to stay home and avoid in-person shopping. Director of Operations Travis Maynard emphasized Amazon’s commitment to creating quality jobs in Bessemer, offering competitive pay, benefits, and a safe, innovative workplace.

Proactive Response to Working Condition Concerns

Given years of scrutiny regarding warehouse working conditions, it’s unsurprising that Amazon has adopted a proactive stance in addressing these concerns.

Unionization Efforts and Timing

Christian Smalls, a former Amazon employee and now a vocal critic, explained at TechCrunch’s Justice event that the timing of the Bessemer facility’s opening provided an opportunity for the union to connect with workers. He noted that workers, having witnessed the challenges faced by unprotected colleagues, were seeking improved conditions.

Upcoming Vote and Company Actions

Next week, the RWDSU will begin counting ballots in what is shaping up to be the most significant unionization effort since Amazon’s founding in 1995. The company has actively sought to influence the outcome.

In January, Amazon unsuccessfully appealed a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling allowing workers to vote by mail, citing the high number of COVID-19 cases in the state. The company voiced concerns that mail-in voting would be overly time-consuming and resource-intensive.

A firm specializing in union avoidance, Jackson Lewis, argued that mail-in voting disadvantages employers by allowing voters extended time to submit ballots, diminishing the impact of the employer’s voter education efforts.

Anti-Union Advertising and Twitch

The following month, Amazon aired anti-union advertisements on its streaming platform, Twitch. These ads featured employees expressing their intention to vote against unionization and directed viewers to a website criticizing union membership fees.

Appelbaum criticized the ads as an attempt to mislead workers about the realities of working conditions at the Bessemer warehouse. Twitch subsequently removed the ads, acknowledging they should not have been broadcast on the service.

Worker Testimonials and Concerns

Workers have consistently voiced concerns about conditions in Amazon’s warehouses, often drawing comparisons to the robotic systems that increasingly share their workspace. New York Magazine recently published an account from a Bessemer picker detailing the demanding and exhausting nature of the work.

Darryl Richardson, the worker interviewed, highlighted the unfairness of potential disciplinary action for using the restroom, and the occasional inoperability of bathroom facilities, requiring workers to descend stairs to access alternatives.

Numerous similar accounts have emerged over the years, with reports of workers resorting to urinating in bottles to avoid penalties for taking bathroom breaks becoming particularly prominent.

Social Media Exchanges and Political Reactions

When Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan challenged Clark’s Sanders comparison on Twitter, an Amazon official account responded, expressing hope that Pocan could enact policies mirroring Amazon’s benefits.

Sanders has long been a critic of the company, advocating for a $15 minimum wage and criticizing tax breaks. In 2018, he proposed the Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies (BEZOS) bill.

Sanders argued that taxpayers should not subsidize a billionaire like Bezos, who could afford to pay workers a living wage. Amazon subsequently increased its minimum wage to $15 an hour, a point frequently emphasized by the company.

Responding to Pocan’s comments regarding “union-bust[ing] & mak[ing] workers urinate in water bottles,” the Amazon News Twitter account questioned the veracity of the claims, asserting that such conditions would deter workers.

Pocan’s response was direct: “[Y]es, I do believe your workers. You don’t?”

A recent report from The Intercept corroborates the prevalence of this practice, citing an internal email from May detailing instances of unsanitary waste being left in bags, including urine and feces. The email outlined disciplinary measures for drivers engaging in such behavior.

Company's Stance and Political Support

Despite the potentially misguided nature of its social media responses, Amazon’s defensive posture is understandable. The company emphasized its support for a higher federal minimum wage, following its own increase.

The unionization effort has attracted support from a diverse range of political figures, including Stacey Abrams and Marco Rubio. Rubio, deviating from typical Republican positions, wrote an op-ed expressing support for the workers, citing concerns about a “woke” HR trend.

His support, while unusual, highlights the broader implications of the vote. He stated that when a conflict arises between working Americans and a company engaging in culture wars against working-class values, he stands with the workers.

Potential Outcomes and Wider Impact

Amazon will closely monitor Tuesday’s vote count, recognizing its potential ramifications beyond the 6,000 workers at the Bessemer facility. A failed unionization attempt will be presented as validation of the company’s workplace practices. However, a successful vote could inspire further unionization efforts throughout the company.

Update: The Amazon News Twitter account has continued its assertive responses to progressive politicians, including Senators Sanders and Warren.