Read Up on the Ongoing Amazon Worker Disputes
In October, a federal administrative judge will listen to cases filed against Amazon by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union branch in Washington State. The union alleges that Amazon breached federal labor laws by firing two employees, Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa, who openly spoke out against the company's climate policies during the pandemic.
Who are the dismissed Amazon workers?
Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa are both User Experience Designers at Amazon and founding members of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, a group advocating for environmental issues within the company. They aided in organizing Amazon workers who participated in a 2019 strike to protest against the company's reaction to climate change and spoke out against labor conditions in Amazon warehouses.
What accusations have been made against Amazon?
Workers accuse Amazon of violating the National Labor Relations Act by obstructing organizing efforts, founding unions, and negotiating wages. They were allegedly dismissed in April 2020 for participating in activities supporting Amazon warehouse workers in the United States. The complaint filed by UFCW claims that Amazon fired these employees for their activities and prevented others from engaging in similar actions.
Amazon defended its actions, insisting that the employees were terminated not for criticizing their workplace conditions but for repeatedly violating internal company guidelines.
When can we expect a ruling?
The virtual hearing before the administrative judge is expected to span several days and may involve witness testimonies. While administrative judges rarely make an instant decision, both sides will have the chance to submit written evaluations after the hearing, which might delay a final ruling for up to six months.
Have other workers accused Amazon of violating labor laws?
The accusations made by Cunningham and Costa represent the most recent grievance against Amazon by federal authorities, who suspect retaliation against labor activists. In November, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint alleging the wrongful termination of a warehouse worker in Pennsylvania.
According to NBC News' analysis of NLRB data between February 2020 and March this year, at least 37 retaliation claims were lodged against Amazon in 20 cities.
Additional Insights
Various unionization groups and individuals have taken an active role in the ongoing labor disputes at Amazon:
- Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE): They are advocating for a union vote at the RDU1 Fulfillment Center in North Carolina, demanding better pay, more paid time off, and dignity and respect on the job. They have faced aggressive anti-union campaigns from Amazon management[1][3].
- Amazon Teamsters: With nearly 10,000 Amazon workers, they have organized strikes in nine cities during peak seasons, pressuring Amazon to recognize their union and negotiate.
- Amazon Labor Union (ALU): Led by Chris Smalls, ALU is the first union at an Amazon warehouse in the United States. They have organized strikes and campaigns across the US, including affiliations with the Amazon Teamsters division[2][5].
- DXT4 Warehouse Workers in Quebec: They were the first to unionize at an Amazon facility in Canada. They faced layoffs and outsourcing of their jobs after Amazon announced the closure of all seven warehouses in Quebec, allegedly to avoid signing a labor contract[4].
These groups and individuals are leading the charge for better working conditions, higher wages, and union recognition at Amazon.
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