Amazon is pulling out all the stops in its efforts to dissuade Alabama warehouse workers from unionizing, even campaigning in the restroom.
Workers at Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama warehouse made headlines several weeks ago when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) scheduled a vote for workers to decide on unionization. Amazon is notoriously anti-union, even hiring Pinkerton detectives to monitor and thwart efforts. The company has been accused of illegally firing individuals who advocated for better working conditions and supported organizing.
Amazon is not letting up its anti-union efforts, according to The Washington Post, putting so much pressure on employees ahead of the vote that some feel they’re being harassed. The company is even putting fliers on the inside of bathroom stall doors with the message: “Where will your dues go?”
“They got right in your face when you’re using the stall,” said Darryl Richardson, a pro-union worker. Another pro-union worker, who remained anonymous due to fear of retaliation, said: “I feel like I’m getting harassed.”
Amazon is already on thin ice when it comes to employee relations. The company just settled for nearly $62 million for stealing tips from Flex drivers. It’s not hard to imaging the company’s full-court press in Bessemer backfiring, driving more employees to vote in favor of unionization. Should the vote pass, it will likely be the first of many, serving as a template for workers around the country.
