Workers outside the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, AL
As of Friday, April 9 workers at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama have voted not to unionize and join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). In August of last year, workers made a move to vote on unionizing in the face of what many considered excessive work hours, labor, and little to no breaks. Amazon, currently the second-largest private employer a company with a history of putting down efforts of workers to unionize, was once again successful after implementing many anti-union tactics and convincing workers against unionizing.
Amazon has been under fire as of late as a result of workers expressing their frustrations with the mentality that the company promotes and the lengths they go to to ensure productivity. With cameras monitoring employees so that they do not surpass time limits on breaks for lunch or the bathrooms, many feel that they are constantly at risk of losing their jobs and actively make an effort to avoid breaks as to not be fired. These frustrations of workers are not in isolation. Amazon has been extremely successful as of late due to the increased amount of time individuals are spending at home and away from stores in order to protect themselves from the current pandemic. As the profits of Amazon, its shareholders, and CEO Jeff Bezos rise, many workers feel that they too should share in such benefits.
As bonuses for top members of Amazon rose, conditions for warehouse workers remained poor. Despite advice from public health officials to shut down warehouses when COVID-19 began to spread between employees, in a number of cases, Amazon did not respond and it was noted by workers that little to no efforts were made to improve the safety of warehouses such that they could limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Also up for debate is Amazon's "Day 1" mindset that is promoted amongst workers. It pushes for employees to work as though it is day one of a startup company every day. However, this does not seem like it is inherently realistic given that warehouse workers are not the ones reaping the benefits of hard work.
With the minimum wage of Amazon workers at $15.30 and a number of benefits, some workers felt that they were making a reasonable wage and were provided with sufficient work benefits. Amazon also mandated workers participate in group sessions with "former union workers" who reinforced the aforementioned sentiments and described unionization as negatively impacting the workers. This was joined with social media campaigns such as #DoItWithoutDues and posters throughout the warehouse in order to push their anti-union views.
Yet, a New York Times approximation of the yearly income of a full-time worker at such a wage was about $31,000 and was noted as being less than half of the United States median family income, and in many cases, it was at a level at which families qualified for subsidized school lunches. Furthermore, many people across the country are desperate for work in the face of the pandemic, having lost their jobs, so they have little more choice than to accept what they can get.
Currently, there is a surplus of available workers due to the decline of firms as a consequence of the pandemic. Furthermore, the increase in demand for services provided by Amazon due to more people working from home has caused an increase in the influx of goods that they must deliver and sort through. Given the artificial limits on the number of employees that can work at any given time as a result of health concerns and a desire for executives to maximize profits, it makes sense for warehouse workers to have to work long hours. To account for the increase in demand, reductions in input costs, which can occur through an increase in the productivity of workers, allow the supply curve to shift left. Although, as previously described, Amazon's methods for securing increased productivity are indeed questionable. Constant monitoring of workers has caused many to feel like they are having their privacy invaded and many more as though they cannot stop working regardless of the issue without fear of being fired and replaced, something especially troubling given the current pandemic.
Ultimately successful in their effort to prevent unionization, Amazon was convincing enough for workers to vote 1,798 to 738 against unionizing. However, the RWDSU plans to challenge this vote and the practices utilized by Amazon with claims that the voting was not inherently fair due to the conditions of the vote.
https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-historic-union-vote-gets-underway-alabama/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/technology/amazon-control-bathroom-breaks.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-union-vote-why-some-workers-voted-against-unionizing-alabama-2021-3
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/early-vote-counts-show-amazon-warehouse-workers-not-likely-unionize-n1263558
8 comments:
It seems that Amazon is attempt to have a great deal of control over their work. I would assume that not allowing them to unionize makes more dependent on Amazon for raise and benefits. AS union members can work to push for benefits and fair treatment. The lack of unionization stops them from being able to push for better working conditions.
I am a big supporter of employee owned companies. It is certainly unfair that the tech workers for amazon reap great benefits from Amazon's soaring stock price. I think one thing Amazon should implement is stock options for factory workers as well. Everybody deserves to have a share in the company they work for, and such a policy effectively boost employee satisfaction and productivity. Another way for Amazon to improve their employee productivity and satisfaction would be to ease the policy on bathroom breaks and serve lunch for their factory workers. Employee workers should enjoy similar benefits as other workers, at least to the extent of vending machines and stocked snack cabinets. I feel like a job in an Amazon factory would be similar to life in school, with scheduled breaks and such. Adults deserve to live with more respect than that. Cameras may regulate break lengths, but I think they should ease the policy to reduce the feeling employees have that they could get fired at any moment. Overall, I believe that by improving employee satisfaction and creating incentives, Amazon can improve the productivity of their workers and create an environment more conducive to work in. Feel free to add on to my ideas with your own.
The negative conditions that come with working at minimum wage-level jobs for Amazon seem to be reason enough for Amazon employees to establish a union. Unions seem like they would be a rational response to companies that seem to be abusing the control they have over employees, but constantly putting them at risk of losing their job and maintaining that employees work through unsafe conditions.
Amazon's mandated group sessions that seem to serve as anti-unionizing propaganda also concerns me. Amazon's higher-ups are using their power to discourage workers from unionizing, a process that is threatening them. To put it simply, it seems unfair. It's hard to believe that one of the biggest, most successful companies in the world cannot find a way to protect and benefit their lowest level employees.
It's upsetting how Amazon is trying to further restrict these employees from getting longer and more appropriate breaks. Amazon is trying to restrict/prevent its employees from unionizing just to intimidate employees, and since it's extremely difficult to find another job, they have to suck it up and stay. Sadly, these employees are stuck, relying on amazon for a job. It's embarrassing for Amazon, seeing as it's one of the most successful companies (especially now that people leave their homes less and order online more) and it has enough money to implement better conditions for their employees. Employees shouldnt be treated like this, Amazon has to step it up.
It is disturbingly impressive that Amazon was able to prevent the largest push for unionization amongst workers in the U.S., even with celebrity endorsements, including that of President Biden. While Amazon workers did vote against unionization, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) that they have joined has been attempting to hold Amazon accountable, holding legal charges against the corporation for their unfair labor practices. Amazon is set to a hearing with the National Labor Relations Board to determine the level of coercion, suppression, and manipulation that the workers endured under their leadership. The union is also challenging the union election vote of 1,798 to 738 as for the first time, some Delaware technicians also voted against unionizing. Unfortunately, the underpaid and poorly treated workers will only face an upward battle from here, as unions are often disadvantaged under labor law, and unable to provide increased benefits to the Amazon workers, where many feel stuck going back to Amazon where they can receive the same treatments as RWDSU. The pandemic has only exacerbated the stakes for such essential workers at the oligopoly, as many are struggling to make ends meet while the rich get richer.
It's interesting to see many economic concepts that we have previously learnt about at play in this situation. Perhaps a big reason why Amazon's prevention was successful was because of the extreme surplus of labor workers in the market right now (as we learned, the minimum wage in today's market acts as a binding price floor thus causing a large surplus in labor. Additionally, with the pandemic, this surplus has exacerbated). Another thing to consider is Amazon's minimum wage. As the article states, this wage puts many hovering around the poverty line -- Amazon should focus on increasing equity and equality, reallocating budgets (as to not shift the demand curve on the supply-demand graph) to give workers a higher wage that is sufficient for their well being.
I agree with other commenters. It's extremely upsetting that Amazon is preventing them to unionize. As seen in the industrial revolution, unions were pivotal to creating fair working conditions. Amazon workers aren't protected equally under labor laws, and it will be difficult for them to get their fair share.
I am pretty baffled by the extent of anti-union activity that Amazon promoted. Having posters in their warehouses reminds me of learning about the importance of propaganda during World War II, so it is pretty surreal to me that a company is taking these actions.
That being said, I don't promote entirely promote the goals of the unions either. I think unions are good ways to reveal something that may have been hidden: in this case, prospective unions helped further publicize the already known poor working conditions at Amazon. I feel like unions are pretty ineffective beyond this point, though. For example, the goals of the union are initially unclear. Are they fighting for improved working conditions, or for improved wages? Secondly, unions tend to make it difficult for companies to function. I agree, wages should be increased or stock should be given to employees who have worked for a long time, but unions can force requests that will hurt the company and its workers in the long run. My fear is that unions could request too much of a workplace change and lower the efficiency of warehouses to a point where layoffs are required. Overall, I don't see an easy solution to the issues at hand. Although Amazon's minimum wage is low compared to the national poverty line, it is ahead of many other companies, like Walmart, Target, and FedEx when it comes to having a $15 minimum wage. Furthermore, the goals of the tracking system are to maintain productivity with such a large workforce that is otherwise difficult to manage (I agree that it is overly invasive, but it isn't like the goals are unfounded). I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon were to step up to the plate and fix some of its internal problems to avoid future unionization that could hurt both the company and its employees.
I think it’s helpful to dive into some of the specific ways that amazon manipulated the vote. First, it’s important to know that the union and the policies/benefits that the union stands for are specifically for full time employees. However, many of the employees at this specific location were part time. Amazon made the choice of allowing these part time employees to be included in the vote, which basically diluted the vote, as the part time employees were much more likely to favor their employer (Amazon) over a union that gave benefits to their colleagues but not them. However, it’s also important to realize that the number of votes that the union is challenging in court (505 votes) is not enough to change the results of the election. Another specific way Amazon allegedly changed the vote is by putting up a mailbox and a tent around it in full view of the managers, which can be seen as a manipulative tactic that could pressure some employees.
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