Amazon Violated Federal Labor Law During Union Organizing Efforts

Dec 4, 2023 : A recent ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has found that Amazon engaged in multiple violations of federal labor law during the 2021 union organizing efforts at its JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, New York.

The NLRB’s administrative law judge, Lauren Esposito, found that Amazon’s actions “interfered with, restrained, and coerced employees in exercising their rights” under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

Specifically, the NLRB found that Amazon violated the NLRA by:

• Threatening and retaliating against employees who supported the union. This included terminating employees, altering work schedules, and subjecting employees to increased surveillance.
• Disparaging and intimidating union organizers. This included calling them “thugs” and accusing them of “trying to divide the company.”
• Interfering with employees’ attempts to organize and communicate with each other about the union. This included confiscating union literature and barring employees from wearing union insignia.

The NLRB’s ruling is a significant victory for labor unions and workers’ rights. It is also a reminder that despite its immense power and wealth, Amazon is not above the law.

“This is a big win for workers’ rights,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), representing the Amazon workers at JFK8. “Amazon cannot get away with intimidating and silencing its workers.”

Amazon has said that it will appeal the NLRB’s ruling. However, if the ruling is upheld, Amazon could face substantial fines and be required to reinstate employees fired for union activity.

The NLRB’s ruling is a significant setback for Amazon, which has been fighting tooth and nail to prevent its workers from unionizing. The ruling could encourage workers at other Amazon facilities to unionize, leading to increased scrutiny of the company’s labor practices.

The ruling also highlights the importance of the NLRA in protecting workers’ rights. The NLRA is a crucial piece of legislation that ensures workers have the right to organize and bargain collectively without fear of retaliation.

The NLRB’s ruling against Amazon is a victory for workers’ rights and a reminder that companies cannot violate the law with impunity. The ruling could have far-reaching implications for the labor movement and the tech industry.