I’m disappointed about the union vote at Amazon’s Bessemer warehouse in Alabama. While it’s true that Amazon pays its workers $15 an hour and offers health benefits, the working conditions leave a lot to be desired. The rapid pace expected of the workers could result in unsafe working conditions and who wants to have to pee in a bottle?
Amazon pulled out all the stops in their anti-union campaign with emails and posters in the bathroom and mandatory meetings with anti-union propaganda. They violated labor laws by firing union activists. But I guess the vote shouldn’t be a surprise because Alabama is a right-to-work (for less) state. In a nutshell, Amazon coerced its employees to vote against their interests.
Prior to the 1980s, labor was a counterbalance to capital and most Americans enjoyed a middle-class lifestyle. Then Reagan’s response to the PATCO strike dealt a blow to the labor movement and ushered in an era of anti-labor sentiment.
I’m scratching my head at why people are against labor unions. Organized labor gave us the weekend, paid vacations, and the other perks that we enjoy. Because of the labor movement, children no longer work in coal mines and textile mills. Some companies even offered great pay and benefits to keep workers from unionizing.
On a personal note, I’m grateful that my daughter belongs to a union. Although I have a great job with competitive benefits, I’m jealous of the perks that she receives.
Equity - Environment - Economic Justice 