Despite fiercely lobbying for mail-in voting in the 2020
Presidential Election, Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos – who
also owns The Washington Post – has completed a complete 180
degree turn in his position in just three months. He is now
demanding Amazon employees vote on unionization in person to ensure
a “valid, fair and successful election.”
The sudden flip flop comes as employees at a Bessemer, Alabama
Amazon warehouse prepare to vote on joining the Retail, Wholesale,
and Department Store Union.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), who is overseeing the
referendum, had originally planned to begin mail-in voting on
February 8th, but Amazon has halted the process, with attorneys
filing a motion last Thursday to delay the vote, which will include
over an estimated 6,000 employees.
An Amazon spokeswoman detailed the company’s position on the
voting process in a statement released to CNN:
“[T]he best approach to a valid, fair and successful election
is one that is conducted manually, in-person, making it easy for
associates to verify and cast their vote in close proximity to
their workplace.”“Amazon provided the NLRB with a safe, confidential and
convenient proposal for associates to vote onsite which is in the
best interest of all parties – associate convenience, vote
fidelity, and timeliness of vote count. We will continue to insist
on measures for a fair election, and we want everyone to vote, so
our focus is ensuring that’s possible.”
Employees have reported poor work conditions and bottom of the
barrel compensation at facilities owned by Bezos – the world’s
richest man and a major backer of left wing movements worldwide.
While the online retailer has reportedly seen record profits in
recent months thanks to Amazon-backed COVID-19 shutdowns, some
employees say they’re still relying on government assistance to
get by due to low, stagnant wages.
Despite Bezos’ left-wing leanings, Amazon has stood firmly
against the unionization of its employees throughout the years. In
2017, populist factions of the left and right alike joined forces
to oppose the construction of a pair taxpayer-funded Amazon
headquarters facilities in Arlington, Virginia and New York City,
prompting the company to shift their planned New York operations to
Tennessee.
Opponents of Amazon compared their plans to high tech versions
of 20th century “company towns” seen across Appalachian coal
country as employees of the planned headquarters will be encouraged
to live in apartments owned by Amazon, shop at stores owned by
Amazon, and live much of their day to day life within the company
bubble.�
