Amazon resorted to many different tactics to defeat this unionization effort and judging by the vote result, it unfortunately worked incredibly well. Amazon hosted daily meetings with workers and had TV screens with anti-union messages. Amazon fired Ryan Brown who was a leading figure in the effort appropriately for using “inappropriate language” while three C.AU.S.E. members were arrested while distributing food outside the RDU1 warehouse. C.AU.S.E. members also accused Amazon of removing workers from the lobby who were attempting to share updates online. This in addition to other efforts of Amazon to defeat this drive shows the importance for the workers to fight for better conditions.

North Carolina is, along with many of its Southern neighbors, an incredibly difficult state to organize in and this vote showed many examples of the tactics used by large corporations to defeat any organizing work. North Carolina is a “right to work” state which means that the job is always going to be incredibly difficult work to do, but that it is a job that must be done. North Carolina has a long history of fighting for better conditions and unions but has come up short many times before.

Garner is a suburb of Raleigh a city that is very unaffordable for many of its residents and the efforts of these and other workers to organize and demand better conditions and wages is not only important but necessary. We must join together to support our fellow workers and fight back against any anti-union efforts both here and worldwide.

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Back in 2018, Amazon launched its DSP program and has now grown to employ over 280,000 workers, but Amazon claimed the drivers were subcontractors even though the company controlled the drivers terms and conditions of employment. This led to Amazon sidestepping federal labor laws and committing dozens of unfair labor practices (ULP) in Palmdale, California including holding captive audience meetings, threatening job loss, and intimidation.

“Amazon drivers have taken their future into their own hands and won a monumental determination that makes clear Amazon has a legal obligation to bargain with its drivers over their working conditions. This strike has paved the way for every other Amazon worker in the country to demand what they deserve and to get Amazon to the bargaining table.”

• Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.

DSP drivers from Palmdale have been on a ULP strike since June 24, 2023 after Amazon refused to recognize the newly formed union of 84 drivers, maintaining it did not employ the drivers. The Palmdale Teamsters have grown their picket line to over 50 Amazon warehouses, including Skokie, Illinois who also launched a ULP strike in June 2024, citing low pay, dangerous working conditions and their refusal to bargain with the Teamsters. Workers in the San Bernardino, California KSBD warehouse, as well as the Hebron, Kentucky KCVG Warehouse have also gone on strike recently over unfair labor practices.

“We wear Amazon uniforms, we drive Amazon vans, and Amazon controls every minute of our day. Amazon can no longer have all the benefits of their own fleet of drivers without the responsibilities that come with it. The time has come for Amazon drivers across the country to organize with the Teamsters and demand what we deserve.”

• Brandi Diaz, Amazon driver and Teamsters Local 396 member

The NLRB’s next step will be to issue a complaint against Amazon and bring the company before an NLRB judge for trial. The Teamsters are hoping the ruling from the NLRB on the Palmdale drivers will include DSP workers nationwide.

The post New NLRB Ruling States Amazon DSP Drivers are Employees, not Contractors appeared first on Labor Today.

UE: Members of Local 222-21 Gain Wage Increases and Better Benefits in Two New Contracts

TRUMBULL, CT | MAY 11—After three days of negotiations, the members of Local 222 Sublocal 21 who work as support staff and supervisors for the Trumbull Board of Education bargained and ratified two new contracts. The members won 2.75 percent wage increases each year of the three-year contracts. The workers were also able to negotiate with the company to have their insurance premiums increase only half a percent each year for the life of the contract, totaling only 1.5 percent, and won a matching increase of 0.5 percent to their 401(k) benefits.

The Local 222-21 bargaining committee consisted of Jeffery VanSteenburgh y Michele Mirmina. They were assisted by Field Organizer Sherry Bryant.

Workers at Amazon DXT4 in Gain Union Certification

LAVAL, QC | MAY 13—Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Laval, Quebec have signed enough union cards to gain certification by the Quebec Labour Tribunal and will be organized under the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN). Under Quebec law, the union can be legally recognized even if Amazon refuses to enter collective bargaining. Unlike the United States, which requires a vote in order to unionize, Card Check is in effect in Canada, meaning once a majority of union cards are signed in a workplace the employees legally gain representation.

Meeting of the WFTU Committee for Democratic and Trade Union Rights on C87

INTERNATIONAL | MAY 10—A meeting of the WFTU committee for the Democratic and Trade Union ٌRights, headed by its president Janaka Adikary, took place virtually on May 9th, 2024. The meeting was focused on the referral of the interpretation of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) of the ILO in the International Court of Justice.

The committee after discussing the aspects of this dispute and in line with the direction of the WFTU Secretariat prepared a written statement to be submitted to the ICJ analysing the principled and well-documented position of the WFTU.

WFTU and ICATU Meeting in View of the 112th ILC

INTERNATIONAL | MAY 21—The WFTU General Secretary, Pambis Kyritsis and the ICATU General Secretary, Jamal Kadri remotely met today and discussed several issues concerning the workers and the trade union movement in view of the 112^th International Labour Conference which is going to be held on June 2024 in Geneva.

The WFTU and ICATU intensifying their strong ties and collaboration discussed on their activities, intervention, and coordination within the ILC for the promotion of the interests of the workers and peoples all over the world.

The post Labor Briefs: May 24, 2024 appeared first on Labor Today.

The workers at DNJ4, represented by unionization lead organizer William Navarro, are demanding significant changes to address a range of issues they face daily. These include concerns over workplace safety, inadequate access to pain relief medication, and disparities in promotions and recognition for their contributions.

“At DNJ4, we’re not just asking for fair treatment, we’re demanding it,” stated Navarro. “Workers deserve respect, fair wages, and a safe working environment. We won’t stop until these demands are met.”

The worker’s demands include a starting wage of $30 per hour, 180 hours of paid time off, job security, and union representation in all disciplinary meetings. These demands reflect the workers’ determination to secure better working conditions and compensation for their labor.

One pressing issue highlighted by the workers is the lack of adequate safety measures, particularly on weekends when L4 Safety personnel are unavailable. Concerns about pallets left scattered on the dock floor, improper storage of pallet jacks, and inadequate access to gloves have raised alarms among the workforce.

Navarro’s recent social media post underscored the frustration felt by many workers at DNJ4, citing a perceived lack of appreciation, favoritism in promotions, and a culture of disrespect within the management hierarchy. The DNJ4 workers’ effort has attracted the attention of presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, and Navarro’s impassioned plea for fairness and respect resonates with many employees who feel overlooked and undervalued.

As the momentum for unionization grows, workers at DNJ4 remain steadfast in their resolve to fight for a workplace that respects their dignity, values their contributions, and ensures their well-being.

Labor Today stands firmly with the workers of DNJ4 and all Amazon facilities in their right to organize and advocate for their own safety, representation, and benefits. The unionization effort at DNJ4 is not just a local movement but a symbol of workers’ empowerment and collective action nationwide against corporate exploitation.

The post Workers at Amazon’s DNJ4 Warehouse Push Forward in Unionization Effort appeared first on Labor Today.