Julia Love and Jeffrey Dastin

(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:) defeated a historic union drive in Bessemer (Alabama) earlier this year. The online retailer does not want to be left out of the next vote, as there is always the possibility.

According to interviews with Reuters, Amazon has intensified its campaign to the warehouse over the last few weeks. They have made it mandatory for thousands of workers to attend meetings and posted signs in the bathrooms shaming labor groups.

This is a sign that Amazon continues to follow its aggressive strategy. The August hearing by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board found that the conduct of Amazon regarding the earlier vote had impeded the Bessemer union electoral process. A decision by the NLRB region director on ordering a fresh vote will be made soon. Amazon denied any wrongdoing, and stated that it wants employees to have their voices heard.

Amazon’s attempts to stop unionization in advance of the next election are still unreported and show that it is fighting for representation at U.S. workites.

Amazon has responded to a rise in labor activity after workers rejected the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union in April. This includes organizing drives in New York and Canada.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, another prominent union, is also pledging to organize Amazon. Unions can have a negative impact on Amazon’s ability to manage its large, complex operation. It could increase costs and alter its management at a moment when there is an increasing labor shortage.

Wilma Liebman (an ex-chair of the NLRB) said that these are important decisions.

Liebman claimed that they fear “any toe” in the way of unionization. There’s nothing better than a win and winning can make you more.

Kelly Nantel, spokesperson for Amazon stated that a union would “impact everyone at the site” and it was important that all employees fully understand what this means for their daily lives working at Amazon.

Amazon will hold mandatory meetings over the next week to remind staff members that they may be forced to strike or lose their pay if unions are established. The move is in reaction to recent protests at work.

Amazon said that unions were a business and took workers’ money. It also asked staff to think about what Amazon can and cannot guarantee – this is now being done in panels above the urinals. These panels also contain information that is not related to unions.

A photo from Reuters shows that “Unions may make a lot more promises than they can keep you on track”

UNION SUPPORTERS BUILD BACK

According to worker accounts, Amazon claims that some staff members have defied their union representations and placed pro-union signs at warehouse bathrooms.

In the meantime, RWDSU personnel have flown to Bessemer. They also facilitated daily chats at a burger restaurant and increased door-knocking. John Logan from San Francisco State University said that home visits are an essential part of organizing efforts because unions do not have guaranteed access to worksite under U.S. Law.

Stuart Appelbaum is the president of the RWDSU. He said that the union had heard from workers who would now change their vote in favor to join. He believes that door-knocking provides the union with a fresh edge.

Appelbaum stated that “we have a better chance to interact with people everyday than we did during the peak of the pandemic.” COVID-19 concerns meant organizers didn’t conduct home visits the last time.

He said that RWDSU is more than Amazon. He said, “It’s about future of work.”

A Teamsters spokeswoman stated that Teamsters has participated in strategy meetings regarding Amazon, along with other unions co-ordinated by the AFL-CIO (the largest U.S. labor union federation). Tim Schlittner, AFL-CIO stated that the federation “brings the resources of labor movement” in support of Amazon workers.

There are many roadblocks, including the fact that RWDSU must reach out to new employees joining the company before an election can be held. Appelbaum said that Amazon hired 200 workers per week in Bessemer.

Amazon has not commented on Amazon’s turnover. More than 5800 people work in the warehouses.

SCARE TACTIC

Just as Amazon increased hourly earnings by 25c for veteran employees, Amazon re-started weekly mandatory meetings in Bessemer on Oct. 10. This was to promote different union messages. Amazon stated that Amazon’s pay hike was independent of the weekly meetings.

Darryl Richardson was a prominent union supporter at Amazon and was a key focus for Amazon’s latest campaign.

Richardson claimed, “They’re trying scare you more right now.” You don’t get paid for going on strike.

Richardson claims that Amazon claimed that a union would make workers quit their jobs and penalize them for crossing a picket line. After scanning Richardson’s badge, an official walking around the warehouse asked workers about their feelings on unions. The 52-year old said that Amazon had treated him differently. “Your mind is already made up.”

Amazon did not comment on Richardson’s comments.

Although the company assured employees that they could turn down organizers who showed up at their doors, Richardson stated that he and his peers kept knocking on doors, while Amazon continues to make its case for itself in home territory.

Amazon posted a sign on a table top at its warehouse exhorting workers to “FOLLOW the MONEY.” The RWDSU granted Appelbaum a $30,000 raise, paid by union dues. Last year the RWDSU spent almost $100,000 on vehicles for its officials.

Appelbaum responded that he does not have a union car. This transportation was for field representatives whose job requires travel to work.

He claimed that Amazon was “misrepresenting information”.