Jeff Bezos — a strong Democratic supporter — and Amazon are aiming to postpone a unionization vote at one of its warehouses in Alabama, the Wall Street Journal reports. Interestingly, Amazon is requesting that the National Labor Relations Board reconsider allowing mail-in voting, claiming the voting process has “serious and systemic flaws.”
Got that? Bezos’ Amazon is doing all it can to prevent any shady activity when its workers cast their ballots.
You are likely trying to figure out how that adds up, right? The Bezos-owned Washington Post called any claims of mail-in voter fraud by Donald Trump or his supporters dangerous and inexcusable. Amazon even banned Parler from its servers, in part, to ensure no one could claim voter fraud stemmed from November’s mail-in ballots. But stop trying, it is not supposed to add up.
In this case, mail-in voting is disadvantageous for Bezos’ e-commerce behemoth. As a result, mail-in voting is now deemed seriously flawed.
An Amazon spokesperson tells CNN the company is seeking a “valid, fair and successful election” and in-person would ensure that. Hmm, interesting perspective.
Amazon has, thus far, fended off unions in the United States. If a majority of ballots vote in favor of unionization, hourly Amazon workers would send an L right up to Bezos’ office.
Bamazonunion.com explains that a union at Amazon would “give us the right to collectively bargain over our working conditions including items such as safety standards, training, breaks, pay, benefits, and other important issues that would make our workplace better.”
The NLRB says, “a mail ballot election will enfranchise employees who cannot enter the voting location for health reasons or due to positive COVID tests.” In an attempt to prevent an unfavorable outcome, Amazon isn’t buying there was enough of an outbreak to warrant NLRB’s decision.
Amazon says that Lisa Henderson, NLRB’s Acting Regional Director, “reached the remarkable conclusion that any level of infection or potential infection among employees counts as an ‘outbreak.'” Noting that only 218 people employees, 2.88%, at its Bessemer facility tested positive during the 14-day period ending on January 7. To Amazon, that is not an “outbreak.” This is quite the change of perspective. Imagine the coverage from the Washington Post if similar questions were asked before November.
Preferences on mail-on voting were never about the health of Americans or ensuring each voice mattered. This was true in both Washington and Silicon Valley. As always, our country’s most powerful figures based their opinions solely on how far it extends their own power, finances, and flexibility.
Hypocritical, and expected.
