Read on Twitter
“Just how many @amazon employees are pro union”. This is a key question that I haven’t seen many reporters ask. The narrative is this is a worker led unionization effort. However I’ve spoken with many employees whenever I see them around town and no one yet has been pro-union. https://twitter.com/abc3340/status/1367460221275303940
To a person they have cited that they enjoy the work experience and the pay and benefits have been a big help to them. Lots of skepticism towards union promises and ridicule of tactics.
While we will have a clearer picture after the vote all have said union support is low. Lots of distain for outside interests becoming involved with very few actual workers being at rallies.
My gut feel is the union message isn’t resonating with the Bessemer workers who seem very satisfied with the worker/company relationship. The fact that the loudest drum beaters are not employees or even residents is quite telling.
Keeping this going as a sort of self diary on what I am hearing. Spoken with more workers who are reporting union reps showing up at their homes. At least one instance escalated when union rep wouldn’t leave after first being asked. Reports of repeated phone calls and texts.
General feeling that employees want the vote over and irritation with the attention. Big push to vote with building signage, and mailbox onsite. 90% job satisfaction per internal polls so Amazon really wants good voting turnout.
Lots of calls for an Amazon boycott the week of a March 8th coming from lager-leaning allies of the unionization effort. Looks like RWDSU is public ally opposed to the boycott, with some assuming they are trying to avoid appearances of a secondary-boycott.
More reports of home visits. Seems to not be playing well, especially with those coming off night shift. Canvassing done by a number of out of town volunteers. Southerners are more than happy for neighbors and friends to stop by but we get annoyed with unsolicited proselytizing.
Last week Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman attended a delegation visit to BHM1. Both accused Amazon of having a black employee arrested for zero reason. Come I find out the employee refused to leave the premises and spit in a security guards face. Not best thing to do in pandemic.
Kinda irritating that folks are willing to throw the black leadership in Bessemer under the bus based on rumors and/or lies.
Found out that when congressional delegation visited on 3/5 they were offered the opportunity to tour facility and meet other workers. They did not take advantage of this offer.
...”neither the Congressional Democrats nor Appelbaum nor any other union official made any concrete demands of Amazon during the event... This only underscores ...the union is being imposed from the top not through an upsurge of rank-and-file workers” https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/03/10/amaz-m10.html
As I’m hearing workers the more I believe the previous quote is true. Search social media / very few pro-union comments from workers. Same 2 pro-union workers are quoted in most all press. Either a VERY silent pro-union majority or it just isn’t there / false union narrative.
Marco Rubio threw in his opinion on the union effort. Most everyone rolled their eyes and promptly forgot about it.
BLM hosted a caravan Saturday to support the unionization effort. Smattering of Amazon employees attended with probably as many countering with no-vote signs. Lots of non-employee participation from labor/socialist groups but decent turnout. Smaller than previous rally I’d say
Some press has covered Bessemer's union history in an effort to show that the history roots of unionization in the community lend weight to the current Amazon effort. Once glaring omission from this coverage is that the unions left some bad feelings behind during the economic..
downturn in the 1980s. For instance, in 1971 black employees of Pullman sued the company, USW & AFL-CIO citing Title VII violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the seniority system negotiated by the union. In 1980 Pullman was acquired by Wheelabrator-Frye Incorporated...
which, after a 2-day strike at their Butler, PA facility, negotiated with the union to consolidate Bessemer operations to Butler. The consolidation never materialized but the shutdown in Bessemer led to 36% unemployment.
Of course this is 4+ decades ago at this point so my question would be: How long is the collective memory of the community and do they remember the union as an advocate or a betrayer. Being the son of a union worker in the Bessemer area, I would say it could go either way here.
Current union focus seems to be producing more content for the nation stage rather than the vote itself at this point which makes sense as this has never truly been about Bessemer or the employees there. This is about a broader anti-Amazon focus.
Expanding on last tweet: the union has been producing content which is certainly being used to bolster national/international support. I believe this will be used in future efforts. However I now think the main purpose is to help build cases of impropriety in case the vote...
...goes against the union. This fight will drag out as they fight over every vote and whether each party did dirty.
One thing that keeps coming up is the narrative that Amazon is taking advantage of a lack of jobs. This doesn’t hold true. The Birmingham metro area tied with Salt Lake metro in February as having the lowest unemployment rates in the nation for cities their size.
As for Bessemer itself they have done a fantastic job recruiting industry and are now a net importer of jobs. More jobs in the city that people of working age living there.
There has been a rash of odd pro-Amazon tweets from accounts claiming to be Amazon workers. The type that are so glowing they appear obviously fake. At least one appears to be a pro-unionization troll. https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-worker-parody-twitter-acount-darla-on-union-vote-alabama-2021-3
The count is officially on. 1,608 votes needed to win either way. At 3:23 central the vote is 172 no, 87 yes.
I’ve been predicting a union loss with an immediate appeal by the RWDSU based on allegations of illegal voter intimidation. Based on the direction of the count and A More Perfect Union dropping another video on the mailbox today I am still convinced that’s where we are heading.
Vote still running about 2-1 against union. The coverage really didn’t delve into the general job satisfaction of most employees and focused on disgruntled minority. The public received a skewed view of reality I believe.
@spencersoper’s paper tally kinda puts the vote so far into perspective.
End of day 1 tally.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1263558?__twitter_impression=true I called it. “...the union seeking to represent the 5,800 workers in Bessemer, has already said it would challenge the vote by filing unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB. It will allege that Amazon broke the law...in the run-up to the election.”
“Stokes, who works as a labor organizer for the Alabama teachers union when she's not working at Amazon.... said that a union for unskilled labor in Bessemer makes no sense.... She and her husband spent $2,400 of their own money to print flyers that detailed Amazon's benefits.”
Following the despair-posting on Twitter the reaction towards Bessemer workers seems to be either 1) too afraid of Amazon to vote yes, or 2) too stupid to see benefit of union. Based on my conversations minds were made up early and largely the workers valued job, enjoyed it,...
Generally okay with management relations and saw no need for unions. Even pro-union employees were a hard sell. NBC article cites labor organizer for teacher’s union that was a no vote. I myself exchanged texts during count with another “no” voter that is active in supporting...
...nearby UMW strike.
And the “No” votes win.
I’m not one to post memes much but this sums up Twitter right now.
Several union tactics/facts were viewed as off-pitting by the Bessemer workers. Briefly recapped those included 1) lack of vision or clear demands, 2) unions use of funds to buy leadership vehicles and what was viewed as high salaries, 3) door-to-door canvassing, ...
... constant texts & calls (something the union dinged Amazon for they did themselves), 4) use of outside DSA, celebrity, politicians, 5) padding rallies with non-workers, 6) trying to tie effort to BLM (pissed off a good number of black workers and seen as pandering), ...
7) reports of bullying from prominent unionization leaders in the warehouse.
