US first: Amazon workers in New York want union

Union leader Christian Smalls raised his hand when the results were announced. He had set up a tent outside Amazon’s JFK8 office building on Staten Island, to convince his colleagues of the importance of a union. When the matter was brought to staff, 8,325 employees were allowed to vote. 2,654 of them voted yes, 2,131 voted no. With 55 percent, the proponents obtained a clear majority.

In European eyes it seems to be a fait diverse, but in the US it is big news. The trade union movement as a whole is much weaker there and especially at Amazon it never got a foothold. However, according to trade union activists, there is much to criticize about the working conditions, work pressure and wages at that company.

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