Staten Island Amazon workers withdraw attempt to unionize - The Hill

nomporkin.blogspot.com

Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, N.Y., have withdrawn their petition for a unionization vote, according to the group leading the effort.

Organizers at the facility said late last month that they gathered more than 2,000 signed cards authorizing the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), an independent organization, to represent them.

Christian Smalls, a former worker at the facility who leads the ALU, said on Twitter Friday that the ALU “temporarily withdrew” its petition because the card check “didn’t go in favor”

However, he said the group will resubmit its petition "ASAP.”

Update today we temporarily withdrew our petition for an election @amazonlabor has met all the requirements along with submitting over 2K signed cards. We’re facing a turnover rate of 150% so the card check didn’t go in favor this time do not get discouraged we will resubmit ASAP
— Christian Smalls (@Shut_downAmazon) November 13, 2021

Kayla Blado, a spokesperson for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), confirmed to The Hill that the union withdrew the petition, but did not give any further comment. The NLRB is a federal agency that oversees efforts for workers to organize and collective bargaining.

The NLRB normally requires authorization cards signed by workers from at least 30 percent of the proposed unit, according to The Washington Post.

And while Smalls said that the ALU received 2,000 cards, Amazon filed documents with the NLRB indicating that they have 9,660 workers on pay roll at the facility in Staten Island, the Post reported.

Kelly Nantel, a spokeswoman for Amazon, told Reuters that the company’s focus “remains on listening directly to our employees and continuously improving on their behalf.”

The Hill has reached out the ALU, NLRB and Amazon for comment.

The withdrawal is the second time this year an attempt to unionize Amazon warehouse workers fell short.

In early April, workers at a warehouse in Bessemer, Ala., voted against allowing the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union to represent them.

However, the vote in Alabama could be held again after an NLRB field hearing officer found that Amazon pushed for installing a mailbox outside of the plant, interfering in the process.

Updated 10:35 p.m.

Adblock test (Why?)