Will Amazon Become Unionized? Is This Why Jeff Bezos Gave Up His CEO Title Last Week?

Amazon employs over ONE MILLION workers. That’s a lot of people! It’s the second largest employer in the U.S.—after Walmart. What would happen if Amazon employees unionized? This question isn’t theoretical any longer. There’s an aggressive movement among workers to form a union. A vote will be taken this week in an Alabama suburban facility to determine if the warehouse becomes the company’s first unionized U.S. facility.

Ballots are going out on Monday to over 5,800 workers at Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama  fulfillment center and warehouse. They will be asked if they’d like to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

According to Wired, “Alabama isn’t exactly known as a hotbed of labor organizing; it’s a right-to-work state with a union membership rate of 8%, nearly three points below the national average (itself near an all-time low). The Birmingham suburb of Bessemer, however, has a deep history of strong unions that haven’t been shy about striking.”

There have been complaints from employees at Amazon’s fulfillment centers. Workers allege that they are given back-breaking tasks in the warehouses. They also complain of surveillance technology conducted by automated tracking systems, including cameras that track their every move. There is a palpable fear that if they don’t meet unrealistic quotas, they’ll be fired.

Amazon spokesperson Rachael Lighty said about the matter, “Amazon already offers what unions are requesting for employees: industry-leading pay, comprehensive benefits from the first day on the job, opportunities for career growth, all while working in a safe, modern and inclusive work environment. At Amazon, these benefits and opportunities come with the job, as does the ability to communicate directly with the leadership of the company.”

Amazon attempted to delay the voting, but it was denied by the National Labor Relations Board. In an ironic turn of events, Amazon requested a postponement of the vote, which would be conducted by mail, stating that it should be done in person. Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, is also the owner of the Washington Post, which actively argued that the 2020 presidential elections shouldn’t be held in person and ballots should be cast through the mail to minimize the spread of Covid-19.

Amazon spokesperson Lisa Levandowski said, “Our employees choose to work at Amazon because we offer some of the best jobs available everywhere we hire, and we encourage anyone to compare our overall pay, benefits, and workplace environment to any other company with similar jobs.”

RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum said more than half of the workers have signed cards in support of union representation. Appelbaum told NPR, “Workers at the warehouse had described grueling productivity quotas and had wanted more input in shaping the workplace, including how people get disciplined or fired.”

Senator Bernie Sanders, in support of the union election, tweeted on Saturday, “It cannot be overstated how powerful it will be if Amazon workers in Alabama vote to form a union.” Sanders added, “They are taking on powerful anti-union forces in a strong anti-union state, but their victory will benefit every worker in America. I’m proud to stand with them.”

If this group unionized and it spreads across the country, there could be serious ramifications for the company. The workers will have much more bargaining power. They will certainly push for better working conditions, higher pay, job security, enhanced health benefits, pensions and other forms of remuneration. They would likely push back on technologies, robotics and artificial intelligence that steals jobs from people.

These demands would incur greater costs for Amazon. It may make the company less profitable and affect the bottom line. The stock price could take a hit. Bezos may fall from first place as the wealthiest man in the world. It kind of makes sense as to why Bezos relinquished his CEO title last week. Who needs all of these headaches when you’re worth about $200 billion? Even if the stock goes down and he’s only worth $100 billion, I think he could survive quite nicely on that amount of money.