Amazon warehouse workers to hold union vote in Alabama on February 8

Amazon warehouse workers at an Alabama warehouse can start voting by mail in early February about whether to form a union, a hearing officer on the National Labor Relations Board decided on Friday.

About 6,000 employees at the distribution center in Bessemer, Alabama, will vote from February 8 to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Ballots must be received by the NLRB regional office by March 29, then the board will begin counting ballots from 10 am CT the next day.

The decision represents a blow to Amazon, which had pressed for the election to be held in person at the premises of Bessemer, known as BHM1.

A spokesman for RWDSU declined to comment. Amazon did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Amazon said earlier that the company does not believe the RWDSU “represents the majority of our employees’ opinions”.

The decision starts what will be a union vote closely watched by one of the country’s largest employers. Unions have a stronger position among part of Amazon’s European workforce, but the company has largely succeeded in thwarting organizational efforts in the U.S.

Amazon set up a website to announce its position in the Alabama warehouse union, urging workers to “do it without paying fees”, referring to the cost of membership when joining a union.

“We guarantee high salaries, health care, vision and dental benefits, as well as a safety committee and appeals process,” according to the website, which was first reported by The Washington Post. “There is so much MORE you can do for your career and your family without paying debt.”

Amazon has not faced a substantial union vote since 2014, when repair technicians at a Delaware depot failed to garner enough votes to form a union. However, since then, protests linked to Prime Day and other events, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, have laid the foundation for increased organizational efforts among parts of its workforce across the country.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.