FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2, 2021
Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259
NLRB HEARING OFFICER RECOMMENDS NEW ELECTION AT AMAZON IN BESSEMER, ALABAMA
Workers Await formal Decision on Objections and Direction of a Second Election
(BESSEMER, AL) – Today, the Hearing Officer who presided over the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) case on the Amazon union election in Bessemer, Alabama has submitted her initial recommendation on the Objections filed by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) charging misconduct by Amazon. In a final step towards a formal decision, the Hearing Officer has found in-evidence that Amazon violated labor law and is recommending the Regional Director set aside the results of the election in her decision on the objections and direct a second election.
Workers endured an intensive anti-union campaign designed by Amazon to intimidate and interfere with their choice on whether or not to form a union. Today’s recommendation is based on the simple fact that Amazon will use any and all tactics illegal or otherwise to stop workers from forming a union. Workers now await a formal Decision on Objections from the Regional Director, which should this recommendation be taken would include a Direction of a Second Election and details therein.
Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) issued the following statement in support of the initial recommendation:
“Throughout the NLRB hearing we heard about how Amazon required employees to attend lecture after lecture, filled with mistruths and lies, where workers had to listen to the company demand they oppose the union. We heard from some of the dozens of outsiders and union-busters Amazon hired to walk the floor of the warehouse, polling workers about if and how they voted. Most critically, we heard testimony on how Amazon levied influence from its highest executives on our postal service to install a mailbox, which they were expressly forbidden to do.
“Amazon acted illegally during this union election, we support the initial recommendation by the NLRB Hearing Officer to set aside the results and direct a second election and await the Decision from the Regional Director.”
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.