Amazon Seeks to Halt Union Election at Alabama Warehouse

Amazon has filed a motion asking the US National Labor Relations Board to halt the union election at its Bessemer, Alabama warehouse, scheduled to start Feb. 8.

The company also requested a review of an earlier labour board decision to hold the election by mail due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a filing dated Jan. 21.

Amazon’s first US union election since 2014 was scheduled to begin with the mailing of ballots in early February and a vote count starting March 30. The online retail giant, which is the second-largest private employer in the United States after Walmart, has long avoided unionisation and has trained managers to spot organizing activity.

The company alleged multiple gaps in labour board precedent, errors made by the acting regional director, and missed opportunities for mail-ballot improvements to back its motion.

The union declined to comment on the matter.

By Ayanti Bera in Bengaluru; editor: Vinay Dwivedi