What are your thoughts about Amazon warehouses unionizing?

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I've heard that several Amazon warehouses have successfully formed a union. Although Amazon is forced to recognize them, the company has continually dragged its feet in meeting to negotiate with the unions - effectively pretending that they don't exist.

I'll admit, I'm kind of surprised that Amazon didn't immediately close down any warehouse that voted to form a union.

 

[IronWing]

Workers have learned that eternal vigilance is required to keep rapacious capitalism at heel. Organizing a union is an important first step. Using the union to improve their lives is the work to be done. If ever workplaces needed a union, it is Amazon's sweatshops.

 

[Brainonska511]

No problem with it at all. Capital uses its collective bargaining power to try to keep labor costs down and increase it's own returns, why can't labor use its collective bargaining power to improve their own returns?

Amazon is a big, profitable corporation that holds huge market power. They can afford to treat their workers a bit better.

 

[kage69]

My thoughts are with how businesses like Amazon treat their workers, we need more unions not fewer.

Important to note Amazon is profitable enough that giving workers everything they want could be done without any hardship. The owner is worth more than the GDP of many countries, joyrides to space FFS.

 

[bigboxes]

Workers have learned that eternal vigilance is required to keep rapacious capitalism at heel. Organizing a union is an important first step. Using the union to improve their lives is the work to be done. If ever workplaces needed a union, it is Amazon's sweatshops.

For sure. But Amazon now has DCs everywhere. They could probably shift the load around if there was a strike at any given plant. There'd have to be country-wide strike to have an impact. And even then...

 

[IronWing]

For sure. But Amazon now has DCs everywhere. They could probably shift the load around if there was a strike at any given plant. There'd have to be country-wide strike to have an impact. And even then...

The alternative is that the abusive labor practices continue.

 

[BoomerD]

If the workers WANT/think they NEED a union, then I'm 100% behind them being able to unionize.

 

[kage69]

If the workers WANT/think they NEED a union, then I'm 100% behind them being able to unionize.

What if the company doesn't care? What if that company threatens, intimidates or bribes key individuals to suppress that organizing? What if specialized 3rd parties are brought in expressly to harass, dox, sabotage and intimidate the people who want to unionize?

We need to stomp down on that. Also closures clearly in response to union creation should be penalized heavily, with sizeable severances mandated for everyone who loses a job over the CEO wanting to make a statement. Many corporations get incredible amounts of tax breaks and subsidies, the government has leverage it can use if it wants.

 

[BoomerD]

What if the company doesn't care? What if that company threatens, intimidates or bribes key individuals to suppress that organizing? What if specialized 3rd parties are brought in expressly to harass, dox, sabotage and intimidate the people who want to unionize?

We need to stomp down on that. Also closures clearly in response to union creation should be penalized heavily, with sizeable severances mandated for everyone who loses a job over the CEO wanting to make a statement. Many corporations get incredible amounts of tax breaks and subsidies, the government has leverage it can use if it wants.

In more normal times, the NLRB quickly slap down companies who pull that shit…with King Donnie and his cabinet of court jesters about to bring the circus back to town, I suspect such behaviors will be commonplace.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I mean, I'm a teachers' kid who was raised in Michigan, so... go union?

 

[Red Squirrel]

No issues with it. They have every right to try it and I wish them luck. It's a really risky thing to do, but if it works it will mean they have more rights.

 

[dank69]

I feel really bad for Amazon. Just a wholesome company trying to bring great products to the average Joe out of the goodness of their heart. I remember a time when laborers had to provide their own pee bottles instead of forcing jerb creators to pay people to walk to and use sanitary restroom facilities. People want those good times back.

 

[bononos]

How do ordinary workers feel about newly minted citizens who came from poor countries who are now very grateful breaking their backs working at places like Amazon for just above minimum wage level so they can send money back.
Do they pull American up or bring America down? This is an issue that the Democrats need to face and speak directly about.

 

[MrSquished]

How do ordinary workers feel about newly minted citizens who came from poor countries who are now very grateful breaking their backs working at places like Amazon for just above minimum wage level so they can send money back.
Do they pull American up or bring America down? This is an issue that the Democrats need to face and speak directly about.

Who are all these newly 'minted' citizens'? How are they getting citizenship?

 

[bononos]

Who are all these newly 'minted' citizens'? How are they getting citizenship?

What I mean is immigrants legal and illegal. I came across a recent newly minted citizen who came from a war torn country, probably an asylum case as a former refugee.
3 countries made up 50% of refugees in the recent decade - https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-refugees-are-entering-the-us/
I know that these countries are screwed up but I get the feeling that many more of the asylum seekers are more of economic immigrants.

 

[MrSquished]

What I mean is immigrants legal and illegal. I came across a recent newly minted citizen who came from a war torn country, probably an asylum case as a former refugee.
3 countries made up 50% of refugees in the recent decade - https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-refugees-are-entering-the-us/
I know that these countries are screwed up but I get the feeling that many more of the asylum seekers are more of economic immigrants.

You think Amazon is hiring illegal aliens as employees? Refugees here legally yes, but illegals? Really doubt that.

 

[dank69]

How do ordinary workers feel about newly minted citizens who came from poor countries who are now very grateful breaking their backs working at places like Amazon for just above minimum wage level so they can send money back.
Do they pull American up or bring America down? This is an issue that the Democrats need to face and speak directly about.

I feel like every newly minted citizen makes America one person stronger.

 

[bononos]

You think Amazon is hiring illegal aliens as employees? Refugees here legally yes, but illegals? Really doubt that.

I'm also speaking more generally about how a Democrat talking point would be about how immigrants ( legal and illegal ) do the work that Americans don't want or are too dangerous/difficult. But those jobs like meatpacking used to be good or decent working class jobs. The Green Bay Packers was started by WI meatpacking workers.

 

[MrSquished]

I'm also speaking more generally about how a Democrat talking point would be about how immigrants ( legal and illegal ) do the work that Americans don't want or are too dangerous/difficult. But those jobs like meatpacking used to be good or decent working class jobs. The Green Bay Packers was started by WI meatpacking workers.

Why do only Democrats have to address this large change in the way a global economy works?

 

[Brainonska511]

I get the feeling that many more of the asylum seekers are more of economic immigrants

So what? People move to better their lives, oh no! Economics isn't a zero-sum game.

 

[bononos]

Why do only Democrats have to address this large change in the way a global economy works?

Because Republicans are the anti-middle class party, haven't done jack for ordinary people for decades while Democrats are supposed to be the pro-worker party.
Donald Trump's success in large part is due to how he touched on the core economic issues that are important to the working class who haven't reaped the benefits after decades of the 'free market', globalization, 'information superhighway' and now 'AI'. He may mangle his words but the gist of his rants are understandable enough to ordinary people.

 

[Brainonska511]

Donald Trump's success in large part is due to how he touched on the core economic issues that are important to the working class who haven't reaped the benefits after decades of the 'free market', globalization, 'information superhighway' and now 'AI'. He may mangle his words but the gist of his rants are understandable enough to ordinary people.

Yes, the man who squandered a billion dollar inheritance, shits in gold toilets, lives in a resort, and has never shopped for groceries once in his life really gets the working man. Trump succeeded because he managed to tap into the ultimate grievance identity politics, particularly in a time where incumbents were falling left and right because people got upset at a little inflation and facts no longer mattering (everything is vibes).

 

[bononos]

So what? People move to better their lives, oh no! Economics isn't a zero-sum game.

Yes up to a point. Its doubtful that such large numbers of immigrants and refugees are going to be good economically. What do you mean by the zero-sum game statement? That those new immigrants are going to allow their American counterparts to move up the job ladder?

 

[bononos]

Yes, the man who squandered a billion dollar inheritance, shits in gold toilets, lives in a resort, and has never shopped for groceries once in his life really gets the working man. Trump succeeded because he managed to tap into the ultimate grievance identity politics, particularly in a time where incumbents were falling left and right because people got upset at a little inflation and facts no longer mattering (everything is vibes).

Its not a little inflation. Housing has become very speculative when prices used to track inflation% back when politics wasn't so polarized. Healthcare also very expensive because, well you know why. These take huge chunks of the paycheck. Wasn't it big news that full time minimum wage workers can no longer afford to rent a one-bedroom apartment across the country. This is not a minor annoyances and petty grievance politics. Its a huge shift for the country where the middle class has shrunk below 50% of households (or something like that) years ago when it used to be the broad majority.

 

[Brainonska511]

Yes up to a point. Its doubtful that such large numbers of immigrants and refugees are going to be good economically. What do you mean by the zero-sum game statement? That those new immigrants are going to allow their American counterparts to move up the job ladder?

It's not zero-sum because those immigrants spend money to live in their communities; their children grow up here and continue to contribute. That money flowing around means more jobs and economic activity for all.

We also don't exactly see "Americans" lining up to take immigrant-heavy jobs, like home construction or farm work.