New vote recommended in the election of the Amazon Union in the United States | Voice of America

SAN FRANCISCO – A U.S. union official has recommended overturning the results of a failed vote to unionize Amazon workers at an Alabama warehouse, the union in the effort said on Monday, paving the way for further news elections.

The recommendation of a hearing officer is a key step in potentially overturning the April poll, which aimed to create the first union at a U.S.-based Amazon factory, but which the union said was marred by corporate interference.

The US labor watchdog, the National Labor Relations Board, is expected to give approval for the proposal to take effect.

The results, which showed a large majority of workers rejecting the move, ended a deadly months-long battle that sparked an intense debate over working conditions at Amazon, which has more than 800,000 U.S. employees.

“We support the hearing officer’s recommendation that the NLRB overturn the election results and hold a new election,” said Retail, Wholesale and Department Store President Stuart Appelbaum, in a press release.

“Amazon’s behavior throughout the electoral process was despicable.”

Amazon firmly claimed it did not interfere with the vote and said it would appeal the hearing officer’s recommendation.

“Our employees had the chance to be heard in a noisy time when all kinds of voices weighed in the national debate, and in the end, they voted overwhelmingly in favor of a direct link with their managers and the company. Amazon said in response to an AFP investigation.

“Their voice needs to be heard first and foremost, and we plan to appeal to make that happen.”

Amazon argued that most of its workers don’t want or need a union and already offers more than most other employers, with a minimum hourly wage of $ 15 and other perks. .

The union group said workers were bombarded with anti-union messages and claimed the company’s use of a drop box outside the warehouse could have intimidated employees.

Amazon’s campaign was seen as a turning point for a declining U.S. labor movement, with activists aiming to use the Alabama warehouse as a catalyst for further organizing efforts.