Julia Love

(Reuters). (Reuters) – On Thursday, a group of Amazon.com Inc. workers tried to organize a union in New York. According to documents obtained from Reuters, a high-profile organizer as well as two of his employees were detained outside a company warehouse.

Christian Smalls, an Amazon organizer, told Reuters Wednesday that he was detained after delivering food to warehouse workers as part of the union campaign he’s leading.

When workers start voting on March 25, his quest to unionize Amazon’s JFK8 Staten Island Warehouse will be realized. Amazon Labor Union, a collective of workers called the Amazon Labor Union, filed a complaint on Thursday alleging that Amazon had violated a December settlement.

As part of the settlement, Amazon pledged not to limit workers’ ability to engage with their colleagues in non-work areas during non-work time.

“Amazon.com Services has violated the National Settlement agreement,” the Amazon Labor Union stated in the charge. “Accordingly, we request an expedited investigation and immediate … relief in light of the upcoming election.”

Amazon Labor Union claims that Amazon made Jason Anthony and Brett Daniels, two employees of the warehouse, in reprisal for them being involved with the union. Smalls worked previously at the warehouse, and was terminated in 2020 after allegedly violating company safety guidelines.

Amazon’s Bessemer in Alabama, is holding a second election. Vote by mail will still be available until March 25, with the count beginning March 28.

Earlier in this week, RWDSU (Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union) brought charges to the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Amazon illegally of interfering with the election.