Amazon Workers On Staten Island Vote To Successfully Form Company's First Unionized US Warehouse
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Amazon workers at a Staten Island warehouse voted Friday to form the Amazon Labor Union, becoming the first of the retail giant’s U.S. warehouses to successfully vote to organize.
Warehouse workers cast 2,654 votes in favor of unionization and 2,131 opposing votes, according to National Labor Relations Board officials. Federal labor officials said the results of the count won't be verified until they process any new objections that come in before April 8. Former Amazon worker Chris Smalls leads the independent group, which consists of former and current employees who previously lacked support from an established union. Smalls was fired in Mar. 2020 for violating social distancing measures after leading a walkout to protest working conditions at the Staten Island warehouse. The Amazon Labor Union is seeking a number of better working conditions including a $30 per hour minimum wage, longer breaks, paid sick leave and paid time off for injured employees. While Amazon expressed that they were "disappointed with the outcome of the election," Joe Biden and other top White House officials have publicly supported the warehouse workers' unionization efforts.
Slate (Left bias) emphasized how the union vote is an example of "courage and determination" and hinted at "a possible new pro-labor surge." Many right-rated outlets including The Federalist (Right bias) and The Daily Caller (Right bias) highlighted an interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) where she was accused of skipping an Amazon union event in Aug. 2021.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Amazon workers in NYC vote to unionize in historic labor winAmazon workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to unionize on Friday, marking the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the retail giant’s history and handing an unexpected win to a nascent group that fueled the union drive.
Warehouse workers cast 2,654 votes — or about 55% — in favor of a union, giving the fledgling Amazon Labor Union enough support to pull off a victory. According to the National Labor Relations Board, which is overseeing the process, 2,131 workers — or 45% — rejected the union bid.
The 67...
From the Right
Amazon’s NYC warehouse votes to unionize — drawing White House praiseAmazon workers at a warehouse in Staten Island voted Friday to become the web giant’s first unionized US workers — drawing praise from the White House.
The vote was 2,654 in favor and 2,131 against unionization, according to National Labor Relations Board officials.
“The president was glad to see workers ensure their voices are heard with respect to important workplace decisions,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a Friday briefing.
“He believes firmly that every worker in every state must have a free and fair choice to join a...
From the Left
Amazon Workers on Staten Island Vote to Unionize in Landmark Win for LaborIt was a union organizing campaign that few expected to have a chance. A handful of employees at Amazon’s massive warehouse on Staten Island, operating without support from national labor organizations, took on one of the most powerful companies in the world.
And, somehow, they won.
Workers at the facility voted by a wide margin to form a union, according to results released on Friday, in one of the biggest victories for organized labor in a generation.
Employees cast 2,654 votes to be represented by Amazon Labor Union and 2,131...
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