Following Monday’s rally in Staten Island, Amazon Labor Union (ALU) members gathered outside of the company’s DBK-4 Warehouse in Queens, NY on Wednesday Morning. Last month, drivers from this warehouse voted to unionize, joining workers in Amazon’s Staten Island warehouse, JFK-8. They were joined by members and organizers from the Teamsters Union, community members, and several elected officials.
“Let today be a warning that these Amazon workers are not alone,” New York State Senator Jessica Ramos told the crowd, “They have the Teamsters behind them, they have community organizations behind them, they have elected officials at every level of government behind them, and we’re going to fight, not only until they get recognition of their union, but until they get the fair contract they deserve.” Ramos, who represents the 13th District and is the Labor Chair for the New York State Senate, admonished Amazon for the millions of dollars they have spent on union busting.
State Senator Jessica Ramos speaks at the rally. (Photo by Emma Lucía Llano.)
Amazon has been involved in several court cases questioning the legality and legitimacy of ALU’s union elections, though they have been largely unsuccessful. Workers have reported intimidation, unfair suspensions, and retaliatory firings of union leaders. These actions seem to have failed at deterring workers from speaking out. “They send in union busters, but they don’t know we can be union busters busters,” said ALU organizer Brendan Radtke, “The Teamsters are union buster busters. DSA is union buster busters. All these senators, assembly members, congresspeople: union buster busters. That’s what we’re here to show them because this isn’t going anywhere.”
Jeffrey Arias, who alleges he was fired as retaliation for his union activity, was also present at the rally. Though Amazon claims he was fired due to a customer complaint, Arias says he was not shown the complaint, which is standard practice at the warehouse. Arias told Pavement Pieces, “I need to stay in this fight. I can’t keep seeing this. I can’t keep seeing guys come to work sad everyday.” Workers at DBK-4 shared many of the same concerns as their JFK-8 colleagues in Staten Island, among them making a living wage, getting better benefits, and being offered holiday pay. Amazon worker Lamont Hopewell said at the rally, “Most importantly, I believe, is our health. Right now we don’t get quality health care… We need Amazon to recognize that, you know, we use our bodies every day to deliver these packages.”
The elected officials present at the rally urged to comply with NLRB rulings and begin contract negotiations with ALU. “We have seen this happening in the early 1900s with monopolies and with factories,” Emily Gallagher, New York State assembly member, said, “Amazon is using new technology to do the same old exploitation. And I, as a New York State Assembly member, will not stand for it.” Outside of showing their support at the rally, members of the New York State Legislature are also trying to pass a bill that would protect workers in extreme temperatures, amongst other workplace safety legislation. Jessica González-Rojas, New York State Assembly member for the 34th District, told Pavement Pieces, “Worker justice is something that is very central to the New York State legislature, especially us democrats and working class members. My mom is in a union, I was in several unions, so it feels very personal.”
Assembly Member Emily Gallagher speaks at the rally. (Photo by Emma Lucía Llano.)
Amazon recently filed a lawsuit against the NLRB, claiming that the organization’s structure is unconstitutional. This could signal that Amazon intends to further delay contract negotiations, but ALU members and their allies in government, remain steadfast in their commitment to bring Amazon to the bargaining table. “It is the workers that have made Amazon the most valuable company in the world, and it’s time for the company to recognize that, recognize this union, and come up with a fair contract,” said John Liu, New York State Senator, “And if that doesn’t happen, we’re going to be out here for as long as it takes.”
