Exclusive: Amazon instructs New York workers ‘don’t sign’ union cards

Amazon, the second-largest employer in the US, has made plain its need to maintain its workforce from unionizing. In one in all its warehouses, ALB1 in upstate New York, that message has turn out to be crystal clear: “Do not signal a card.” 

Photographs of the brand new digital signage have been despatched to Engadget by an worker on the facility. Their presence was confirmed by a second worker, David, who claims to have been on the achievement middle roughly since its opening in 2020. In line with David (whose full identify is being withheld for worry of retribution by his employer), the carousel of anti-union posters went up right this moment and cycles between roughly seven totally different slides, every actively discouraging staff from signing a union card. “It is on a continuing loop whereas individuals punch in and punch out of their shifts,” he mentioned, “[when] they go on their breaks, or they go on their lunch. Any time that we will be up in direction of the entrance.” 

Amazon has been identified to publish signage meant to discourage unionization at different amenities. As Vice reported in March, staff at JFK8 in Staten Island, New York have been handled to an array of posters with circumspect slogans like “Is union life for me?” and “Will the [Amazon Labor Union]’s voice change mine?” The signage at ALB1 seems to signify essentially the most forceful tack the corporate has taken in expressing its disdain for an organized workforce. The corporate additionally has a observe document of breaking labor legal guidelines and irritating organizing efforts: firing or in any other case retaliating towards staff, stopping staff from handing out pamphlets, and interfering with a union election. Behind closed doorways, the corporate additionally deliberate a smear marketing campaign towards a distinguished organizer. 

We have requested each Amazon and the Nationwide Labor Relations Board for touch upon the legality of this signage and can replace our story if obtain a response. 

Staff at ALB1 have been pushing to kind a union since no less than Might. It isn’t but clear if the organizing efforts are pointed towards becoming a member of Amazon Labor Union, the grassroots group that efficiently voted to unionize one of many Staten Island amenities in April. That mentioned, primarily based on the brand new signage, administration at this achievement middle seems to think about the group its main risk. Practically the entire indicators particularly reference ALU, which the corporate calls “untested and unproven.” One other even suggests becoming a member of ALU would contain giving up some measure of non-public privateness, although it isn’t clear in what approach. We have requested ALU for remark as effectively and can replace this story if we hear again from the group.