The Amazon Labor Union, a grassroots labor group that secured a significant victory at an Amazon warehouse two years ago, has opted to affiliate with the Teamsters union amid ongoing challenges.
Amazon Labor Union Joins Teamsters Amid Struggles
Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien announced this affiliation during Tuesday's union's general executive board meeting in Washington. If approved, members of the Amazon Labor Union, situated in a Staten Island warehouse, will essentially become part of the Teamsters as an "autonomous" local union.
Associated Press reported that this has identical rights and obligations as a standard chapter per the agreement. The Teamsters have announced that their board has unanimously approved the affiliation, signaling progress toward unionizing Amazon's non-corporate employees.
Amazon Labor Union President Chris Smalls announced the collaboration, stating that the union is joining forces with one of the most powerful unions to take on Amazon together. Smalls emphasized the union's demand for a contract, underscoring the situation's urgency.
ALU's Journey Amid Legal Battles and Internal Strife
Despite their victory over two years ago, securing a union contract remains elusive for the organization, the only one to achieve such a feat at an Amazon warehouse in the U.S. Following that, the ALU has encountered a series of challenges, including two failed election attempts at different Amazon warehouses and internal discord over its organizing tactics.
This internal strife led to the formation of the ALU Democratic Reform Caucus, composed of dissenting members who sued the union last year to demand a leadership election.
Arthur Schwartz, the attorney representing this faction, stated that the election is slated for July and will occur outside the warehouse where the unionization initially transpired. The agreement between the leaders of both organizations has encountered resistance from the caucus.
Schwartz mentioned that the Teamsters expect ALU members to approve the agreement before the internal leadership election in July. This, however, presents a problem because the ALU lacks an updated membership list, which is necessary for the ongoing internal election and which the caucus has requested.
Certain union leaders have accused Smalls, the prominent figure behind the campaign, of misusing union resources on a press tour instead of prioritizing crucial organizing efforts.
This disagreement has led to a division between the two factions and an ongoing legal dispute. Smalls referred to the lawsuit as "ridiculous" and argued that the ALU's employees, not just him, are its driving force.
As per the Washington Post, ALU secured its initial victory in an Amazon warehouse election, and various labor organizations, including the American Postal Workers Union and the American Federation of Teachers, rallied behind them.
Politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also voiced their endorsement. However, as Amazon persistently challenged the union's win through legal avenues and internal conflicts surfaced, public and financial backing dwindled.
In response, the Teamsters have stepped in, offering ALU essential support in terms of finance, legal aid, and organizational structure. This month alone, the Teamsters have filed three unfair labor practice charges against Amazon on behalf of workers in Kentucky, Illinois, and Michigan.
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