Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama are currently voting on whether or not to be represented by a union.
Amazon is shamelessly trying to rig the election, in ways both small –
Amazon has even gotten the local authorities to shorten the time of stoplights outside of the plant so that union organizers can’t hand out pro-union literature to workers passing in their cars.
to enormous –
Last night, workers throughout the plant received emails offering them bonuses if they simply quit their jobs. The emails offer workers, who worked for 2 peak seasons, at least $2,000 to quit. If workers have been there at least 3 peak seasons, they are offering them $3,000.
Some Amazon workers, who dislike their job at the warehouse, may find the bonuses a tempting bridge to quit their job and seek something better. Workers are even being told that if they quit now that they could regain their jobs later after the union election.
Amazon is telling workers “quit now, right before [during, actually] the election, and we’ll give you a couple of grand and then you can come back to work for us.”
I can only hope that this is found to be illegal and that Amazon will be heavily penalized. I’m sure it’s a forlorn hope, but maybe something will be done.
Meanwhile, how anyone who claims to care about working people can spend a dime with Amazon is completely beyond me.