Union forces were hoping to win over workers at Alabama Amazon — they got obliterated



Pro-union forces were hoping to start a national tide of unionization with a victory at an Amazon factory in Bessemer, Alabama, but workers instead dealt a decisive blow to their campaign.

The vote to unionize the plant was halfway over on Thursday evening when pro-unionists were already admitting defeat and crying foul.

By Friday, the final count was 1,798 ballots against unionization, and only 738 ballots for unionization.

Stuart Appelbaum, the president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), said that the organization would challenge the results to the National Labor Relations Board after accusations that Amazon intimidated workers through the use of a mailbox.

"Amazon worked very very hard to get a very strange mailbox installed on their property and insisted that people vote at that box," said Appelbaum.

He also said that workers had a real fear of losing their jobs if they voted for the union.

Robert Reich, the economist for the former Clinton administration, was among those voices decrying the alleged unfairness.

"Amazon's egregious anti-union campaign prevailed," tweeted Reich.

BREAKING: Amazon’s egregious anti-union campaign prevailed. The company prevented its Bessemer, Alabama warehouse w… https://t.co/CEKbbXjCvJ
— Robert Reich (@Robert Reich)1617985610.0

"The company prevented its Bessemer, Alabama warehouse workers from forming a union. This was the most blatant and appalling anti-union blitz I've ever see in my 74 years on this earth."

But others defended the vote and ridiculed those complaining about the election and blaming a mailbox for the loss.

"Nobody really believes this — although many will pretend to, and it may be sufficient to gain the RWDSU a sympathetic audience with the NLRB. It is patently absurd. It is conspiracy theory–level thinking," wrote Charles Cooke at National Review.

"It is sore-loserism. It is pathetic," he added. "The union lost this drive by two-to-one. It did not do so because one of the voting options included the use of a USPS mailbox."

Amazon released a statement applauding their employees for refusing the union effort and denying any intimidation on their part.

It's easy to predict the union will say that Amazon won this election because we intimidated employees, but that's not true. Our employees heard far more anti-Amazon messages from the union, policymakers, and media outlets than they heard from us. And Amazon didn't win—our employees made the choice to vote against joining a union.

Pro-union advocates are putting their hopes in President Joe Biden supporting passage of the Pro Act in Congress. The Pro Act is legislation aimed at greatly increasing the power of unions to force employees to join and fund their efforts.

Here's more about the union loss in Alabama:

Amazon.com workers reject forming unionwww.youtube.com

Early vote count shows union defeat at Amazon warehouse in Alabama and liberals are melting down



A highly anticipated union vote among Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, appeared to be headed toward defeat for the union, and many liberals on Twitter are very angry about it.

The vote count will resume Friday but with half of the votes counted Thursday, only 463 votes supported unionization, while 1,100 votes opposed unionization, more than a 2 to 1 margin.

A total of 3,215 votes were cast in the vote that is being overseen by the National Labor Relations Board.

The unionization effort needs 1,608 votes to win, a "nearly insurmountable climb" according to NBC News.

Some on the left took to Twitter to express their fury and frustration with the failure to unionize Amazon.

"Not surprised at the disappointing Amazon union vote so far," said Nathan Robinson, editor of Current Affairs.

Not surprised at the disappointing Amazon union vote so far. No matter how hard organizers work, when the wealthies… https://t.co/EdjIL5YWuD
— Nathan J Robinson (@Nathan J Robinson)1617920633.0

"No matter how hard organizers work, when the wealthiest man in the world is pulling out all of the stops to terrify workers & lie to them about unions, and actively punishes people for being pro-union, it's hard to win," Robinson said.

"I think a lot of folks really, really want Amazon workers to win, and it's amazing to see, but the reality is that union campaigns are rigged against workers in the best of circumstances, let alone when you're taking on Amazon," replied unionist C.M. Lewis.

"This Amazon union vote is another good lesson on how out of touch online politics is with the realities on the ground. It's like night and day," said another user who identified himself as a "Hillary Clinton Democrat."

"The most likely outcome in these situations is that the employer successfully busts the union by instilling fear and uncertainty into the workers, and even those workers that were initially in favor of organizing into a union get afraid and change their mind," said associate professor Rebecca Givan at Rutgers University.

Despite the apparent defeat in Bessemer, Alabama, unions will likely get a boost from efforts by the Biden administration to pass the "Pro Act," which would force more Americans to pay into unions, and dismantle protections against union intrusion at the state level.

Here's more about the Amazon union vote:

Amazon union vote count set to beginwww.youtube.com