Amazon warehouse workers to hold Alabama union vote on February 8

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 said on Friday.

About 6,000 employees at the Bessemer, Alabama, distribution center will vote starting February 8 to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Stores Union. The ballots must be received by the NLRB regional office by March 29, and then the board will begin counting the ballots starting at 10 a.m. PT the next day.

The move represents a blow to Amazon, which had been pushing for the election to be held in person at the Bessemer facility, known as BHM1.

A spokesperson for RWDSU declined to comment. Amazon did not respond to a request for comment. An Amazon spokesperson previously said the company does not believe RWDSU “represents the majority of our employees’ opinions.”

The decision kicks off what will be a closely watched union vote at one of the country’s largest employers. Unions are stronger among part of Amazon’s European workforce, but the company has been largely successful in thwarting organizing efforts in the United States.

Amazon has set up a website to publicize its position on the Alabama Warehouse Union campaign, urging workers to “do it without dues,” referring to the cost of membership when joining a union.

“We have you covered with high salaries, health care, vision benefits and dental care, as well as a safety committee and appeals process,” according to the website, which was reported for the first time by the Washington Post. “You can do so much more for your career and your family without paying membership fees.”

Amazon has not 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 related to Prime Day and other events, along with the coronavirus pandemic, have laid the groundwork for the growing organizational efforts of parts of its workforce across the country.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.