Amazon pushes for in-person union vote for ‘valid, fair and successful election’

Amazon is asking Alabama warehouse workers looking to form a union to vote in person instead of by mail, in order to have a “fair” election, despite the continuing threat of the coronavirus.

The e-commerce giant filed a motion with the National Labor Relations Council on Thursday in hopes of delaying the election, scheduled to begin on February 8, according to documents obtained by FOX Business. The move will give the NLRB more time to reconsider its previous decision to conduct the election by post over a period of nearly two months, USA Today reported.

“He considered an election only by post to be the” safest “approach … without ever balancing the supposed risk of spreading the virus with public policy that” strongly favors “allowing officials to vote in person,” wrote the NLRB in its decision.

The NLRB declined to comment further.

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Amazon argued that the personal vote is the best way to check members’ votes.

“We believe that the best approach to a valid, fair and successful election is one conducted manually, personally, making it easier for members to check and vote in the vicinity of their workplace,” said Amazon spokeswoman Heather Knox FOX Business.

Knox also said that Amazon “has provided NLRB with a secure, confidential and convenient proposal for members to vote on the spot, which is in the best interest of all parties – member convenience, vote fidelity and punctual vote counting.”

In November, employees at the Bessemer facility filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board, saying they want to hold an election to form a union to represent the 1,500 part-time and full-time workers at the distribution center. It does not include drivers, seasonal employees, professional employees and others.

The employees at the huge facility pack and ship “sortable packages, which are defined as packages that do not exceed 25 pounds,” according to the NLRB.

UNITED STATES SENATORS ASK AMAZON IF IT WORKS EMPLOYEES, CURBS PROPOSED TO FORM UNIONS

Employees seek to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Stores Union.

“The objective of meeting with our co-workers to form a union is to have better working conditions, better salaries and to be treated with respect and dignity at work”, a website created in support of the formation of a union in Reading the facilities of Alabama.

His effort to form a union was supported by Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Who said his efforts would mark a turning point for “all workers in America”.

Although the company said it respects its decision, Amazon said the deposit has created thousands of full-time jobs in Bessemer since opening in March. The average wage is $ 15.30 an hour, including full medical care, vision and dental insurance.

“We respect the right of our employees to join a union or not, but we do not believe that this group represents the majority of our employees’ opinions,” said Knox.

Even so, the company “will continue to insist on measures for a fair election” so that “everyone” can vote, she said.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.