Catherwood LibraryILR School

The size and high turnover at Amazon warehouses has always been at least two of the major obstacles that face workers attempting to encourage a union election - in addition to any anti-unionization attempts by Amazon. There have been losses in Alabama and another Staten Island warehouse, but the historically successful union election attempt in New York has encouraged workers in other states to push for unions, notably in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Maryland. In North Carolina, Amazon workers are seeking a $5 an hour pay increase along with other benefits such as time off policy revisions and mental health resources. In Maryland, two workers have filed a complaint on unfair labor practices when they were reputedly fired for union organizing. In Kentucky, workers have filed a similar complaint on union retaliation, in addition to seeking safer work environments, such as warehouses that become unbearably hot. The challenge with getting workers to support an election attempt has been trying to reach a large number of workers who are spread out, and who would rather quit than make waves and lose their job, even if the jobs are intolerable. Union organizers have been telling workers to organize rather than quit inhospitable conditions.