(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc’s objections to a landmark union election at an organization warehouse in New York City justify a hearing that could overturn the end result, a U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) official stated.
The on-line retailer has accused the NLRB’s Brooklyn workplace of showing to assist the union drive and alleged that labor organizers intimidated staff to vote of their favor.
Citing the Brooklyn workplace’s conduct, Amazon final month secured the case’s switch to the NLRB’s Phoenix-based area. That workplace’s director, Cornele Overstreet, stated the proof behind Amazon’s claims “could be grounds for overturning the election,” in accordance to a submitting on Friday.
Some 55% of workers who voted from Amazon’s JFK8 warehouse within the borough of Staten Island opted to be part of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), which has argued for greater pay and job safety. Turnout was about 58%.
The election marked the primary time U.S. workers at Amazon had determined to unionize within the firm’s practically 28-year historical past, a victory for organized labor that for years sought extra employee protections on the nation’s second-largest non-public employer.
Overstreet didn’t specify which of Amazon’s 25 objections had the potential to invalidate the election’s final result. He stated the events can current testimony beginning May 23, after which an NLRB hearing officer will advocate whether or not to uphold the end result. The course of could take weeks.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated, “We need our workers to have their voices heard, and on this case, that did not occur – fewer than a 3rd of the workers on the website voted for the union.”
Representatives for the ALU and NLRB didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. The ALU has stated Amazon’s objections don’t have any advantage, serve to stall the union’s certification and that it was false that it ever coerced staff.
The NLRB has stated its enforcement actions in opposition to Amazon have been in step with its congressional mandate.
(Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in Palo Alto, Calif.; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
