The odds were never in their favor, but hot damn, they did it.
Amazon workers at a Staten Island warehouse have voted in favor of unionizing, according to vote counts published on Twitter. They will join the independent Amazon Labor Union, a new organization unaffiliated with pre-existing unions.
The ALU was started by former Amazon fulfillment center worker Chris Smalls who says he was fired in retaliation for organizing. The most recent count of the last box of ballots showed 2,050 Yes votes to 1,574 No votes.
“We worked, had fun, and made history,” Smalls tweeted Friday morning after the victory became apparent. “Welcome the 1st union in America for Amazon.”
The win is notable not just because it’s the first vote to unionize an Amazon facility, but because of the tremendous fight Amazon has been putting up against unionization efforts. Filings from the department of labor show Amazon spent $4.3 million on anti-union consulting efforts, and Amazon has been accused of employing union busting tactics.
But apparently, the might of one of the world’s most valuable corporations wasn’t enough to stop what the Washington Post has described as “dozens” of organizers and a true grassroots effort.
This story is developing…
