Amazon has labored to strongly oppose the unions by way of keeping common categories for workers, launching a website online and telling them the union would possibly now not lead to raises.
“We sit up for having our staff’ voices heard,” Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel mentioned in a remark. “Our center of attention stays on running immediately with our crew to make Amazon a great spot to paintings.”
The first Staten Island vote, arranged by way of the nascent Amazon Hard work Union, will happen in individual out of doors the Amazon warehouse from March 25 to March 30. Now, an election may additionally happen at smaller warehouse LDJ5, additionally on Staten Island. An election date and phrases of a vote have now not but been set.
That sortation heart, the place programs are taken care of for ultimate supply, has about 1,500 staff overall, union organizers mentioned, and the NLRB showed that organizers submitted signed playing cards for a minimum of 30 p.c of the possible union workforce.
Union leaders celebrated the step towards a 3rd election, announcing it’s extra development for employees’ rights. The unions have driven for higher pay, longer breaks and much less surveillance of employees on the huge warehouses.
“It’s simply any other instance of the way once we come in combination, we will be able to accomplish those milestones,” mentioned Chris Smalls, a former Amazon worker and organizing chief for the union.
Smalls, who used to be fired from Amazon in 2020, used to be arrested final week within the parking zone of JFK8 on Staten Island after Amazon safety known as the police to record he used to be trespassing.
Tensions are working top because the votes means between union organizers and corporate officers — and occasionally between employees balloting for and towards the unions — on the warehouses. The NLRB accused Amazon in January of illegally surveilling and dangerous employees who’re seeking to unionize the warehouse. On the time, Amazon mentioned the allegations had been false.
Smalls mentioned he used to be turning in meals to employees on their spoil Feb. 23, one thing he mentioned he has executed continuously for 10 months. He used to be charged with resisting arrest, obstruction of presidency management and trespassing after refusing to depart the realm, consistent with an NYPD spokesperson.
Smalls disputes that he resisted arrest and mentioned the incident “made the corporate glance very unpleasant.” He used to be in the similar space that many meals supply products and services use, he mentioned.
Nantel mentioned in a remark that Smalls had trespassed more than one occasions, regardless of warnings.
“On Feb. 23, when law enforcement officials requested Mr. Smalls to depart, he as an alternative selected to escalate the location and the police made their very own determination on how you can reply,” she mentioned.
Smalls mentioned a listening to shall be held March 14 at the phrases of the election on the smaller Staten Island warehouse.
