At Amazon in New York, a majority is emerging for the first employee representation in the 28-year history of the world’s largest online retailer. After counting almost 2,700 ballot papers, 57 percent of the employees of the logistics center voted for the first union at a US location, according to a count on Friday night.
The final result was expected for Friday. “Getting to this point is already history,” said trade unionist Christian Smalls.
It is unclear how many employees took part in the vote. However, in a simultaneous election in Bessemer, Alabama, there were again signs of a defeat for the unions. A vote had already been taken there a year ago. Because Amazon inappropriately intervened in the election, a new edition has now taken place.
Amazon is the second largest employer in the US and has so far prevented fulfillment centers from unionising. On the one hand by paying higher wages and bonuses in times of labor shortages, but also by public criticism of the work of trade unions. In the meantime, however, union codetermination in the USA is picking up speed. Employees at some Starbucks stores have voted in favor and a vote is due at the end of April at a second Amazon logistics warehouse on Staten Island.
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