Exclusive: Amazon instructs New York staff 'don't signal' union playing cards

Exclusive: Amazon instructs New York staff 'don't signal' union playing cards



Amazon, the second-largest employer within the United States, has made plain its want to maintain its workforce from unionizing. In one in all its warehouses, ALB1 in upstate New York, that message has change into crystal clear: “Don’t signal a card.” 

Photos of the brand new digital signage had 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 success middle roughly since its opening in 2020. According to David (whose full title is being withheld for worry of retribution by his employer), the carousel of anti-union posters went up at present and cycles between roughly seven completely different slides, every actively discouraging staff from signing a union card. “It’s on a relentless loop whereas folks punch in and punch out of their shifts,” he stated, “[when] they go on their breaks, or they go on their lunch. Any time that we will be up in the direction of the entrance.” 

Gallery: ALB1 signage | 7 Photos

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Gallery: ALB1 signage | 7 Photos

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Amazon has been identified to publish signage meant to discourage unionization at different services. As Vice reported in March, staff at JFK8 in Staten Island, New York had been handled to an array of posters with circumspect slogans like “Is union life for me?” and “Will the [Amazon Labor Union]’s voice exchange mine?” The signage at ALB1 seems to characterize probably the most forceful tack the corporate has taken in expressing its disdain for an organized workforce. The firm additionally has a observe report 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 outstanding organizer. 

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

Workers at ALB1 have been pushing to kind a union since a minimum of May. It’s not 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 services in April. That stated, based mostly on the brand new signage, administration at this success middle seems to contemplate the group its main risk. Nearly all the indicators particularly reference ALU, which the corporate calls “untested and unproven.” Another even suggests becoming a member of ALU would contain giving up some measure of non-public privateness, although it is not clear in what means. We’ve requested ALU for remark as nicely and can replace this story if we hear again from the group. 

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