Voting Farce in Amazonland
Why would people in their right minds deny themselves the benefits of due process and better working conditions? The answer is that they wouldn’t, unless they were terrified.
The terrorists in this case are not Al Qaeda, ISIS, or even the Nazis. The terrorists this time are the Amazon executives who want absolute control, and hate democracy. The farce is caused by a giant corporation that is subverting a political process – a union representation election – that is supposed to be a matter for the workers to decide.
Here are the stats:
Eligible workers: 5,876
Workers who voted: 3,041
Challenged ballots: 505
Votes for representation: 738
Votes anti-representation: 1,798
Union cards signed by workers: 3,000+
Our first clue that the workers were terrorized is that only about half of the eligible workers cast ballots. In union elections that I have been involved with, voter turnout ranged from the upper 70s percentiles to the upper 90s percentiles (78.2 percent turnout for elections held 2015-2019). My opinion in the Amazon case, based on my involvement in about 25 union representation elections, is that most workers were highly intimidated that they would either lose their jobs, or the plant would close. They played it safe by not voting, or voting against the union.
In all representation elections from 2015-2019, unions won 71.9 percent.
In Bessemer, Alabama, it wasn’t even close. Yet, more than 3,000 workers signed union cards in the run up to the election. If more than 30 percent of the workforce sign cards, it is enough to trigger an election. However, most union organizers like to play it safe, and wait until well over 50 percent have signed a card. This would be essential with a vicious employer like Amazon.
True to form, Amazon went overboard with its anti-union campaign, which, unfortunately, is legal according to current labor law. The highlights, or lowlights, included bringing in lots of professional union busters, and conducting repeated meetings between management and workers, which are designed to determine which workers may vote union, and to convince all potential voters that they work in a paradise. In addition, Amazon put pressure on the US Post Office to install a mail drop in the company lobby where it could be observed day and night, further intimidating, and lowering, voter turnout.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) had previously rejected Amazon’s request to hold an on-site election in the lobby for two reasons: fear of Covid-19 and concern that workers would be intimidated if they had to vote in the presence of management.
As originally crafted in 1935, union representation decisions would be an internal process of the workers involved. Management was not supposed to play a role. However, as the labor law was watered down over the years, corporations began playing a role in dissuading workers from voting union. Amazon has taken company interference to a new high.
There are good reasons why the employer should not be involved.
Corporations, like Amazon, have resources that dwarf those of the entire labor movement. “Big Labor” is a myth. On the day of the election, Amazon stock was selling for $3,355 per share, more than most workers have to their name. Amazon’s “Market Capitalization” (company value) is 1.69 trillion dollars.
In addition, the company can fire a non-union worker at any time. The NLRB may slap their hand later, but getting rid of a pro-union worker may be worth it to the employer.
A threat to close the plant is often used by employers faced with a union campaign, and is sometimes real. All of these tactics by management should be illegal, and at the least, cost the job of anyone doing it.
Amazon’s Terrorism Proves Card Check Is The Only Fair Way to Unionize
The Amazon election shows once again that the only way to avoid intimidation, is by a card check process in which workers win a union if 50 percent, plus one, sign up to be represented by the union. This is how workplace democracy can come to most factories, warehouses and offices.
This is how Blacks and other workers of color can be covered by a union contract that gives them equal rights to vote, due process, and the same pay and benefits as white workers. Right now, Black workers earn 51 percent of the wages of white workers. It is the same gap that existed in 1950.
Unionizing the United States means racial and gender equality, respect for all people, fairness in political elections and voting, and increased democratic decision making. Everyone should become an ad-hoc union organizer.