A National Labor Relations Board official said on Monday that Amazon violated labor laws by exercising illegal influence over workers’ votes during unionization efforts, recommending that the results of the company’s unionization vote in Alabama be overturned.
The official recommended that the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union’s complaints against Amazon be sustained due to evidence that the company was improperly distributing “vote no” materials while lobbying the influence of supervisors and managers on lower-level employees.
The official also criticized Amazon for its “unilateral decision to cause the United States Postal Service to install a generic unlabeled mail collection box less than 50 feet from the main entrance to its facility, at a location suggested by [Amazon] and immediately beneath the visible surveillance cameras mounted on [Amazon’s] main entrance.”
The location and bizarre design of the ballot collection box muddies the security of the election, and the union argues it may have convinced employees that they were being monitored.
The RWDSU celebrated the step toward a new election.
“The union had charged Amazon with illegal misconduct during the union vote in Bessemer, Alabama,” the RWDSU said in a statement. “In a final step towards a formal decision, the Hearing Officer who presided over the case has determined that Amazon violated labor law; and is recommending that the Regional Director set aside the results of the election and direct a second election.”
Throughout the run-up to the April election, the RWDSU complained that Amazon was suppressing pro-union sentiment and illegally threatening employees.
Now, with the sympathy of the NLRB, the RWDSU is hoping to overturn what they see as an illegitimate election.
“Workers endured an intensive anti-union campaign designed by Amazon to intimidate and interfere with their choice on whether or not to form a union,” the RWDSU continued.
“Today’s recommendation is based on Amazon’s illegal tactics and shows how the company was willing to use any and all tactics, illegal or otherwise, to stop workers from forming a union,” it said. “Workers now await a formal Decision on Objections from the Regional Director, which would include a Direction of a Second Election if the hearing officer’s recommendation is adopted.”
