NEW YORK, April 1 (Reuters) - Workers at an Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) warehouse in New York City voted to form the first union at the second-largest U.S. private employer, a victory that adds to recent grassroots successes by labor activists pushing into new industries.
Employees at the online retailer's fulfillment center in the borough of Staten Island, known as JFK8, secured a majority by voting 2,654 to 2,131 in support of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), or about 55% in favor, according to a count released on Friday by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
The vote represented a victory for U.S. organized labor and a milestone for labor advocates, who for years have considered Amazon's labor practices a threat to workers. Union organizer Christian Smalls, dressed all in Amazon Labor Union red, raised a hand in victory after the win, while ALU members popped champagne in celebration.
Amazon pushed workers too far, forced them to unionize
Amazon spent millions trying to prevent this, but failed.
Workers are feeling ever more empowered in America since management treated them with such disregard during the pandemic.
Organized workers are better able to negotiate good terms with employers.
The new Amazon Union is a good thing for labor!