In a first, Amazon warehouse workers to vote today on labor union representation

[onehandle]

Source: CNBC

A group of up to 30 Amazon employees at one of the company's Delaware warehouses will have the opportunity to vote today in an election that could establish the first-ever labor union representation at a U.S. Amazon facility.

A simple majority — or half of those who vote plus one — is needed to establish the first-ever union shop inside an Amazon facility in the U.S., according to International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers spokesman John Carr.

Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101337140

[rurallib]

1. YAY! Good Luck and best wishes

I do not buy from Amazon based on what I have read about employee relations.

[geardaddy]

2. Solidarity!

[meti57b]

3. solidarity forever!!

[valerief]

4. Wonderful!

[Aristus]

5. Rock and roll, guys!

[Wolf Frankula]

6. Anybody Know How It Came Out?

eom

Wolf

[rucky]

8. Rejected.

so sad.

[Brigid]

7. In celebration, even if the vote doesn't go the way we.hope:

[carrowsboy]

9. Fantastic!

I have been working as a Warehouse Associate at an Amazon Fulfillment Center since it opened last October.

To say the hell we have to endure is torture would be putting it too lightly.

No offense to our veterans, but most of the upper management positions go to Military and they try and run these plants like we are in Afghanistan. A man last week was having chest pains on our pack line and as they wheeled him away I heard a rep say, "Well we have to check your remaining vacation time to see when we can let you go."

Unbelievable!

Lots of pettiness, jealousy and just plain evil ways the associates are treated. i wouldn't still be there but I need the health insurance.

Actually I'm really just holding out til October when I can have my 2 years service and claim my stock options.

[bitchkitty]

10. Why only 30?

I read that the packers and shippers were not included in the vote. Why is that, does anyone know?

I also read that the company held meetings to tell these employees why they didn't want a union. What kind of promises/threats were made? I don't see how anyone in their right minds would refuse union representation, unless they were under serious pressure...

ETA link:

http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/15/news/economy/amazon-union/

[carrowsboy]

12. My theory

Because we would have voted overwhelmingly pro-Union.

[bitchkitty]

13. Fingers were crossed for you and all

the other workers that have to endure bad working conditions and low pay. It's time Amazon recognizes the value of their employees and rewards them.

This ain't over...

[carrowsboy]

14. Low Pay/Zero Future

I was hired in at $11.00/hr and get a $0.25 raise every 6 months...for only 4 times.

Yup, even if I work for Amazon for 10, 20 , 30 years... I'll never get to earn over $13.00/hr.

And I thought Bezos was supposed to be so liberal.

[Javaman]

11. R & K! nt

[U4ikLefty]

15. solidarity

very cool news!!!

[aurora the great]

16. Amazon unionizers

Does any one know if there have been any attempts to unionize the packer/shippers?