Workers at a second New York City Amazon warehouse facility prepare to decide whether to join an upstart union, and truckers have a vested interest in the outcome.
After the fledgling Amazon Labor Union won 55 percent of the vote at a center called JFK8 on April 1, the outfit hopes to replicate the victory at the LDJ5 fulfillment center in Staten Island. High-profile politicians such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rallied behind the union during a late-April gathering.
“We still have a challenge to face. The challenge is they know that they lost, Amazon Labor Union president Chris Smalls reportedly said. “The company is upset about it, so they’re obviously going to ramp up union-busting in this building. Because this building is smaller, it’s easier for them to isolate workers and intimidate them.”
Amazon officials have already filed petitions to set aside the initial union vote based on allegations workers were essentially bribed with cannabis. In turn, labor union attorneys engaged in some finger-pointing of their own.
“This employer has been engaging in sustained unlawful union-busting. Amazon has violated the National Labor Relations Act by forcing employees to attend captive audience meetings, disciplining organizers for protected union activities, and prohibiting the union from displaying its banner in the break rooms,” pro bono union lawyer Seth Goldstein reportedly said.
Although the unionization saga is expected to drag on in the courts, truck drivers may want to consider what’s in their best interest. Reports indicate the average Amazon trucker salary hovers around $45,000 with experienced CDL professionals earning more than $82,000.
Throwing in with the Amazon Labor Union could shift away from incentives-based earnings and start to parallel pay scales similar to Teamsters Union shops. Some estimates peg Teamster driver salaries at $43,500 on average, with peak pays of $83,500. These figures are relatively consistent with current Amazon driver wages.
But agreeing to long-term employment contracts could hamstring CDL professionals from elevating take-home pays or achieving the $110,000 salaries being touted by Walmart. Such decisions are likely to be on the table in the near future as union organizers plan to expand their reach to other major corporations and a diverse workforce.
“We got emails from Walmart, we got emails from Target, Dollar General, from Apple, from Starbucks. We are going to take over the country. The workers are. This is just the beginning. Stay tuned,” Smalls reportedly said.
In Georgia, Apple workers indicated they were inspired by the Amazon Labor Union’s success in New York. Approximately 70 percent of the retail stores’ 107 employees signed cards saying they are interested in holding a union vote.
Sources: theguardian.com, nbcnews.com, ny1.com
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