Amazon employees on Staten Island have voted to become the company’s first unionised warehouse in the United States.
Despite Amazon covering its warehouse walls in “Vote No” posters, employees of the company’s Staten Island warehouse voted to become the United States’ first unionised Amazon facility.
The Jeff Bezos-owned company is infamous for its poor working conditions and limited worker rights, so a unionised branch is a significant step forward for employee welfare.
Addressing union supporters, Amazon union leader, Chris Smalls hit Bezos with a cheeky remark. “We want to thank Jeff Bezos for going to space because while he was up there, we were organising a union,” he said.
By joining the worker’s union, employees could protest Amazon Prime’s two-day shipping promise, push for wage increases, and extend leave and vacation entitlements.
“We’re disappointed with the outcome of the election in Staten Island because we believe having a direct relationship with the company is best for our employees,” a spokesperson for Amazon stated.
“We’re evaluating our options, including filing objections based on the inappropriate and undue influence by the NLRB that we and others (including the National Retail Federation and U.S. Chamber of Commerce) witnessed in this election.”
Ironically, reports have suggested that Amazon spent more than $4 million on anti-union consultants in 2021 alone, paying a single consultant up to $3,200 a day. Yet, the company is freaking out about having to pay their workers a satisfactory amount?
That pretty much sums it up doesn’t it.
