A federal labor relations official has ordered a second union election at an an Amazon facility in Bessemer, Ala., after finding that the tech giant interfered and violated workers’ labor rights during a high-profile, but unsuccessful, union drive earlier this year.
Region 10 Director Lisa Henderson, based in Atlanta, issued the decision and directions for a second election Monday afternoon, according to the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which is working to organize workers at the Alabama fulfillment center. NLRB spokesperson Kayla Blado also confirmed that Region 10 has ordered a new election in the dispute.
“Today’s decision confirms what we were saying all along — that Amazon’s intimidation and interference prevented workers from having a fair say in whether they wanted a union in their workplace — and as the Regional Director has indicated, that is both unacceptable and illegal,” Stuart Appelbaum, president of the union, said in a statement. “Amazon workers deserve to have a voice at work, which can only come from a union.”
