Amazon Warehouse Workers to Decide Whether to Form Company's First U.S. Union

Re:Amazon Warehouse Workers to Decide Whether to Form Compan... by kieselguhr_kid on Friday January 15, 2021 @03:33PM (#25796000)

Hi, I was a union organizer before I was a software engineer. I'll try answer your questions without much commentary:

Is everyone required to join? No. Following Janus, they might not even be required to pay dues. However, the union contract will apply to everyone in the bargaining unit (generally all non-management) regardless of membership.

Is Amazon required to negotiate? Yes, they're legally required to make good faith negotiations. Whether or not they actually do this is an open question, as companies regularly stall here.

Can Amazon simply close the plant? Not legally, no. They would probably end up owing the workers quite a bit of money if they did. Whether or not they take that course of action may be a business decision.

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Re:Amazon Warehouse Workers to Decide Whether to Form Compan... by LatteLazy on Saturday January 16, 2021 @04:38PM (#25805748)

Thanks. So what happens if amazon's offer is exactly what they're offering now?

I think it will be very interesting to see what the unions wants:

* cash raises (and what sort of structure)

* non cash benefits (health etc, more breaks, shorter lines to clock in and out)

* guaranteed hrs

* job security

* political faff

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Re:Amazon Warehouse Workers to Decide Whether to Form Compan... by fat_pikachu on Friday January 15, 2021 @05:58PM (#25797681)

Janus was public sector unions only.

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Re:Amazon Warehouse Workers to Decide Whether to Form Compan... by kieselguhr_kid on Friday January 15, 2021 @07:12PM (#25798430)

Well, guess they'll have to pay their dues then (which makes me happy).

[ Parent | on HN ]