Amazon is known for fast delivery. But finding out if Amazon warehouse workers voted for or against unionization will take a little longer.
The last day for the nearly 6,000 workers in Bessemer, Alabama, to vote was more than a week ago. But it could take a few more days – or more – to count all the votes before the result is known.
The vote itself attracted national attention because of its potential far-reaching implications. Labor organizers hope a victory at Bessemer will inspire thousands of workers nationwide – and not just Amazon – to consider unionization. For Amazon, this would be a big blow to its profits and could change its business operations.
Here’s what we know about voting:
___
WHAT DO THE ORGANIZERS WANT?
In addition to higher wages, they want Amazon to give warehouse workers more time off and to be treated with respect. Many complain about 10-hour weekdays, with only two 30-minute breaks. Workers are standing most of the time, packing boxes, product shelves or unpacking goods that arrive in trucks.
___
WHY IS IT HAPPENING NOW?
Labor historians point to two reasons, the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Workers feel betrayed by employers who have not done enough to protect them from the virus. At the beginning of the pandemic, for example, Amazon workers took walks because they said they were not offered protective equipment or when their colleagues tested positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, the Black Lives Matter movement has inspired people to demand that they be treated with respect and dignity. Most of the workers in the Bessemer warehouse are black, according to the organizers.
The last time Amazon workers tried to unionize was in 2014, when a small group of mechanics working in a warehouse in Delaware tried to organize. But this effort was eventually rejected.
___
WHAT IS THE AMAZON’S ANSWER?
Amazon claims that the Bessemer warehouse, opened about a year ago, created thousands of jobs with an average wage of $ 15.30 per hour – more than double the Alabama minimum wage. Workers also receive benefits, including health care, visual care and dental insurance, without paying union dues, the company said.
___
HOW ARE VOTES VOTED?
As of March 30, the National Council for Labor Relations, which oversees the process, has passed votes with representatives of Amazon and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The names and signatures were revised, but not how those workers voted, which will be done later in an anonymous account. Voters put their ballots in two envelopes to keep the vote secret.
Amazon or the retail union could challenge these votes for a variety of reasons, such as the person no longer working at the warehouse or has a job title that disqualifies them.
Any contested votes will be annulled and remain unopened. Starting Thursday or Friday, the other “yes” or “no” votes will be counted. Media members will be able to follow this number live. Which party wins is determined by a majority of the votes cast.
___
WHEN WILL THEY KNOW THE RESULTS?
That is still unclear. Much depends on how many people voted. The retail union said on Wednesday that more than 3,200 votes had been cast and that there had been hundreds of contested votes, but did not give a specific number. The Labor Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday night. If the number of contested votes is sufficient to change the final result, hearings may be held for those votes to be counted.
Part of the reason the process takes longer than usual is due to the coronavirus. Trade union elections are usually held in person at work, said Andrew MacDonald, a partner at law firm Fox Rothschild.
But the labor council decided it would not be safe to vote in person and instead asked workers to vote by post. In-person elections are usually quicker because Labor council agents can check if a worker is eligible to vote when they show up, instead of reviewing each envelope with votes that are mailed, MacDonald said.
___
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE UNION SINGS?
Typically, Amazon should start negotiating a contract with RWDSU in New York, which is leading organizational efforts for Bessemer warehouse employees and representing 100,000 workers at poultry factories, soda bottling facilities and retailers. such as Macy’s and H&M. But the company could object to the union, postponing contract negotiations by weeks or months.
In the past, labor experts have said employers have done all sorts of things to avoid recognizing a union, including closing shops or warehouses. In 2005, for example, Walmart closed a store in Canada where about 200 workers were close to winning a union contract. At the time, Walmart said the demands of union negotiators made it impossible to keep the store.
___
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE UNION LOSES?
The retail union could file charges of unfair practice against Amazon, based on the Seattle company’s behavior during the election, to influence the outcome. In this scenario, the union says the NLRB would schedule a hearing and determine whether the election results should be annulled because the employer “created an atmosphere of confusion or fear of retaliation” for workers. If this happens, another choice may occur.
In cases where the labor council finds that the employer has done something extremely flagrant to violate labor laws, it could overturn election results, MacDonald said.
_____
Follow Joseph Pisani on Twitter: @ josephpisani