Technology

6,000 Amazon warehouse workers will hold union vote in Alabama on Feb. 8


Amazon fulfillment center warehouse.

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

About 6,000 employees at the fulfillment center in Bessemer, Alabama will cast their ballots between Feb. 8 and March 29 to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The decision represents a blow to Amazon, which had pushed for the election to be held in person at the Bessemer facility, known as BHM1.

A RWDSU spokesperson declined to comment. Amazon didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The ruling kicks off what will be a closely watched union vote at one of the nation’s largest employers. Unions have a stronger foothold among some of Amazon’s European workforce, but the company has largely manage to thwart organizing efforts in the U.S.

Amazon hasn’t faced a substantial union vote since 2014, when repair technicians at a Delaware warehouse failed to garner enough votes to form a union. However, since then, protests tied to Prime Day and other events, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, have laid the groundwork for rising organizing efforts among some parts of its workforce across the country.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.



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