Introduction
Amazon Labor Union (ALU) entails a solitary labor union, particularly for Amazon employees. This organization was established on 20th April 2021. Additionally, it is vital to note that on 1st April 2022, Amazon employees at a store in Staten Island, JFK8, were supported by ALU to become the initial Amazon workers acknowledged by National Labor Relations Board. That aside, the union was initiated by Chris Smalls’ The Congress Essential Workers (TCO) (Milkman, 2022, 96). It all began when Smalls and Derrick Palmer arranged for a walkout demonstration at the JKF8 warehouse to complain about Amazon’s behavior during Covid-19. In their reply, Smalls was fired from Amazon. Amazon’s move attracted many critics, including those government officials, leading to more strike actions against Amazon. Additionally, improving from the 2020 Bessemer Union drive in Amazon’s Alabama facility, Smalls decided that he could create grassroots campaigns to establish ALU after examining the bouts that Amazon threw at the Retail through the Bessemer drive (97). Currently, over 50 Amazon warehouses have contacted ALU with trials to develop their sole workplaces, with certain facilities from Canada, the UK, India, and South Africa. That said, this study looks at the benefits of ALU, both from the perspective of Alex, the employee; Noah, Steve, the investor; and Elva, who is Amazon’s consumer. In other words, this study supports the formation of ALU. Hence, ALU creates safer working conditions, enables just cause, the healthy link between the workers and employers will benefit the organization positively and labor unions will enable the company’s employees to serve the customers well.
From the Perspective of Alex, the Employee
Each employee deserves the treatment of utmost dignity and regard, which applies to Amazon too. Regrettably, under the administration of one of the all-time wealthiest men among all men, Amazon has well-depicted a past of mistreating and dehumanizing its precious resources and employees. Businesses such as Amazon have established decades of progressively bold and violent attacks on their employees’ rights that have melodramatically worn the union’s density, interfered with working conditions, and reduced the living standards of many of its employees (Wich, 2021, 3). Nonetheless, that was never meant to stop, as the company was to progress by enriching its top officials at the suffering expense of its lower employees. Thus, the labor union for employees working at Amazon has various duties.
That said, one of the benefits that Amazon Labor Union brings to its employees is safer working conditions. Almost every person has once endured being unheard or powerless due to being an employee. Being a union member implies that the person and their colleagues have an opinion since they negotiate vital aspects of their employees’ working conditions, for instance, enhanced wages, healthcare coverage, and work-life balance, among other crucial aspects of life (Boewe and Schulten, 2017, 34). Via collective bargaining, the union also operates with the top management to establish procedures for settling disputes in a healthy way that upholds humanity. They say Amazon’s desensitization is well known. For instance, employees lose their lives in Amazon stores. Employees endure disgraceful work quotas that have only increased infections and lifetime harm to others (34). Nonetheless, all these are to come to an abrupt halt with the formation of the union. Therefore, employees can establish their work safety committee and debate the utmost safety standards and procedures they wish to work with.
Besides, Amazon Labor Union leads to just cause rather than the past trend of at-will. More specifically, just cause entails a common principle in employment law as a way to achieve job security. When an individual is sacked for just cause, it implies that they have been fired for their misconduct or other adequate motives. In addition, at-will employment means that the employer has the aptitude to fire his employees for any explanation and without issuing a prior notice, as long the motive is legal (Miah, 2021, 13). When workers are recognized as being employed at at-will, courts refute the employee’s cries for the loss outcoming from the dismissal. Accordingly, unionizing Amazon implies that the employment of every employee falls under just cause. This means that the top management can only fire or dismiss employees when only they can ascertain that the worker violated the company’s policies. In addition, the union can force Amazon to review its firing procedure when the workers feel that the management failed to adhere to specific guidelines. Moreover, the other motive for thumping up the labor union is due to grievance procedures. Before, Amazon employees only had to rely on Human Resource departments to air their grievances concerning the company. Nonetheless, this is all shifting, as employees can file their grievances through another channel. Thus, the above notions support why having an employee labor union is terrific.
From the Perspective of Steve, an Investor
It is not only employees who will benefit from the labor union. Nonetheless, investors also have a positive gain from the labor union. Additionally, one of the benefits of labor unions is establishing an effective relationship between employers and employees, which positively impacts the business. In other words, investors aim to gain profit from the trade. Therefore, investors are looking for companies that are ready to make profits. One of the most crucial resources for profit-making is employees. Workers play an essential role in the progress of any company. The productive employer-employee relationship has a direct link with increased productivity (Campbell, 2021, 799). Thus, employees with safe working conditions will have an effective work-life balance and experience enhanced productivity. When a company has more productive employees, the company thrives, and that becomes a win-win situation even for the investors. Accordingly, labor unions will ensure that the company realizes more profits, which is a benefit to the whole organization and, thus, even to the investors.
From the Perspective of Elva, a Consumer
Customers are essential aspects when it comes to the competitive advantage of any company. Companies serve customers; therefore, companies need to observe effectual means to link with their consumers. Accordingly, companies rely on their employees to establish a close link with the customers. Well-satisfied employees will be able to serve customers as required.
Conclusion
Amazon Labor Union is so recent, created in 2021, after a long battle with Amazon. Amazon had in the past blocked its employees from forming labor unions, fearing that it would cause the company havoc. 2021 this institution came to life—testimonies from Alex, the employee, Steve, the investor, and Elva, the consumer. Based on the employee, the formation of the union will ensure that the workers have safer working conditions and that the operation becomes a just cause rather than at-will. At cause implies that the employees are fired after being given prior notice only when they can prove that one has violated the company’s regulations. For the investors, the company becomes more productive, hence more profits for the investors. Also, the customers will benefit from the effective service they obtain from motivated employees.
References
Boewe, Jörn, and Johannes Schulten. The Long Struggle of the Amazon Employees: Laboratory of Resistance. 2017.
Campbell, Benjamin A., Francesco Di Lorenzo, and Valentina Tartari. 2021. “Employer-Employee Matching and Complementary Assets: The Role of Cross-Organization Collaborations.” Academy of Management Journal 64 (3): 799–823.
Miah, Malik. 2021. “United States: Amazon workers fight for a union.” Green Left Weekly 1301: 13.
Milkman, Ruth. 2022. “The Amazon Labor Union’s Historic Breakthrough.” Dissent 69 (3): 96–101.
Wich, Scott. 2021. “Reflections on Amazon.” Management Report for Nonunion Organizations 44 (6): 3–4.