Amazon Must Negotiate With First Warehouse Workers Union, US Labor Board Rules (reuters.com)
- Reference: 0181219546
- News link: https://it.slashdot.org/story/26/04/04/0638246/amazon-must-negotiate-with-first-warehouse-workers-union-us-labor-board-rules
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/amazon-must-negotiate-with-staten-island-warehouse-workers-nlrb-says-2026-04-02/
The union [2]formed in 2022 , according to the article, and "has been seeking to negotiate with Amazon over pay, working conditions and other matters."
> The NLRB said in its ruling that Amazon "has engaged in unfair labor practices" by refusing to bargain with the labor group or to recognize its legitimacy... Amazon said on Thursday it disagreed with the NLRB's ruling. "Representatives of the NLRB improperly influenced this election," the company said in a statement, suggesting it planned to appeal. "We're confident an unbiased court will overturn the original certification, and we look forward to the opportunity for our team to fairly voice their opinions." An appeal would likely preclude Amazon from having to comply with the NLRB's order while it makes its way through the courts...
>
> Related to the Staten Island case, Amazon has argued that the NLRB itself is unconstitutional and sued to block the agency from ruling on it. The matter is still pending.
After forming independently, that union "has since aligned with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters," the article points out. The Teamsters represent 1.3 million American workers, according to [3]a statement they issued this week , which also includes this quote from the president of Amazon Labor Union-e Local 1. "We are making history at Amazon, and we are doing it through undiluted worker power..."
Their statement adds that the ruling "came only one day after the union [4]announced another historic victory that upheld Amazon Teamsters' right to strike."
[1] https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/amazon-must-negotiate-with-staten-island-warehouse-workers-nlrb-says-2026-04-02/
[2] https://news.slashdot.org/story/22/04/01/1633216/amazon-nyc-warehouse-workers-support-union-in-historic-labor-win
[3] https://teamster.org/2026/04/amazon-teamsters-become-first-union-to-win-bargaining-order-against-e-commerce-giant/
[4] https://teamster.org/2026/03/teamsters-union-forces-amazon-to-honor-right-to-strike/
Ye Gods! (Score:1)
> "Amazon "must negotiate with a labor union representing some 5,000 workers at a company warehouse on Staten Island,"
5,000 workers?!
I fully expect negotiations to drag out for years (longer) - Amazon is apparently intending to appeal the previous decision, and even if forced to sit down and negotiate with the workers union, that process will drag on...
I expect this is a war of attrition - Amazon can just maintain status quo and overtime the workforce will turn-over, perhaps to the point that Amazon can get the workers to vote down the union...
Re: (Score:3)
Collective bargaining for wages is a bad thing? Warehouse workers earning more does not make you earn less.
Re: (Score:3)
I have known several people that got upset when minimum wage went up because it made it feel like they were earning less money...
People are dumb. Really dumb.
Re: Ye Gods! (Score:2)
The minimum wage going up does cause inflation, e.g. in restaurant prices. It made me less likely to get restaurant food.
Nowadays there's been so much inflation that I don't get restaurant food at all.
Earn less? (Score:2)
Collective bargaining for wages is probably good for the collective bargainers as they will make higher wages. But probably not great for the company as they will have higher costs, and not great for those buying the companies products because those higher costs will be passed on to the customers in higher prices.
While the numbers on kenh's paycheck may not change, his normal Amazon purchases will most likely increase in price if Amazon's costs increase. In affect he is then earning less as the value of his
Win the battle, lose the war (Score:1)
Just a reminder of what can happen when workers strike...
[1]https://www.labornotes.org/200... [labornotes.org]
[1] https://www.labornotes.org/2009/09/stella-d%E2%80%99oro-strikers-win-only-face-plant-closing
Re: (Score:1)
I fully expect Amazon to close this warehouse, maybe it will be contaminated with something radioactive for example, to make things easier and then it will shut down. Personally I root for the anarcho capitalist solution and wish Amazon to win this battle for its private property rights.
Re: Win the battle, lose the war (Score:2)
Anarcho-capitalism isn't really a thing. Or at least, it isn't anarchism. It's essentially end-stage libertarianism. If you want to see what it looks like, Somalia is currently in such a situation. It ends up being less freedom and more feudalism with petty warlords all fighting for dominance. It's not unlike the Crips, Bloods, the Mafia, etc., just with everything instead of just with illegal vices.
This is all to say that this kind of anarchy would not be pleasant. Only teenagers, idiots, and assholes actu
Re: (Score:2)
> Just a reminder of what can happen when workers strike...
Sure. Just a reminder, back in the old days, before the NLRB forced owners and unions to negotiate in good faith... Factories and warehouses burned to the ground during labor disputes, people were beaten and killed.
Desperate people do desperate things when they feel they have nothing left to lose.
Re: (Score:2)
Sure. Just a reminder, back in the old days, before the NLRB forced owners and unions to negotiate in good faith... Factories and warehouses burned to the ground during labor disputes, people were beaten and killed.
And for all of you out there who think that that's exaggerated, take a look at the [1]Ludlow Massacre [wikipedia.org] with its body count of approximately 21, mostly women and children.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre
If you want ... (Score:2)
... AI and robots, this is how you get AI and robots.
Oh fuck off (Score:2)
Ai and robots are coming no matter what because the ruling class doesn't like being dependent on us filthy filthy consumers and employees.
They will spend any amount of money to eliminate you from the economy. And we gave them all the money because of sentiments like yours.
I get that you are trolling because it's fun but the thing is they are coming for you and all of us. The sooner you come to terms with that the better.
Assuming you're not ancient Boomer trash. In which case you get to die leavi
Re: (Score:2)
> the thing is they are coming for you and all of us.
Let them come. The socialists have been heralding the post scarcity society. The Star Trek economy is approaching and the left is terrified. Seems someone just told them that the hammer and sickle symbolize labor.
Inevitable? Accusations are Confessions. (Score:2)
If the AI and robots are inevitable, it seems as the grandfather post asserts raising the cost of labor will accelerate their arrival.
This will accelerate... (Score:3)
...the adoption of robots
No it won't (Score:1)
Robots are coming no matter what. There's no accelerating it anymore than it can be. The ruling class, the Epstein class is tired of being dependent on employees and they don't give a rats buttered behind what it costs. The only thing stopping them from automating everything is they haven't quite worked out how to do it yet. Cost is not a factor anymore. They don't want you. They don't want you as a consumer and they especially don't want you as an employee.
The Old Kings had a Divine right. The Epstein
Cost is the only factor. (Score:2)
I can understand why they might want to replace MpVpRb as an employee with a robot that does not sleep.
But I am confused on why they do not want MpVpRb as a customer?
Re: (Score:2)
Robots have been coming for decades. And Amazon is one company that will replace all their warehouse workers with robots at the first sign that is feasible. Amazon, of all companies, knows the limits of robots in automation as they have been trying to create fully automated warehouses for decades.
Re: (Score:2)
> ...the adoption of robots
Amazon already extensively uses robots in their warehouses (notably for moving pods to/from the picking stations currently staffed by people). Replacing the human pickers with robots is still somewhat of a work in progress (Amazon does have their Blue Jay robot), but that is certainly a goal.
just close it. (Score:2)
It will cost less to ship stuff in from elsewhere.
Standard tactic (Score:2)
Not surprising in the least. The NLRB has no current regulations on the books governing how long a new union can be delayed during the initial bargaining process. There's been talk in Washington related to updating NLRB regulations to impose time lines on employers and unions to encourage swift completion of collective bargaining where no contract exists. So far as I know, nothing has changed yet. Amazon is on the forefront of abusing the negotiation process and ignoring all possible ULP complaints.
And in absolutely unrelated news... (Score:1)
...Amazon just announced that 5000 warehouse workers in Staten Island will be offered new roles in a company warehouse in Seattle because their previous warehouse in Staten Island will be completely automated with robots and AI systems. The pilot program in the newly automated Staten Island warehouse requires only a small number of staff to oversee the operations. It will be a model for all future warehouses and distribution centers. If those affected employees choose not to accept the relocation package fr
Re: And in absolutely unrelated news... (Score:1)
I suspect the unionized facility is leased, and this whole adventure could end when the tenant (Amazon) can't negotiate a new lease with the owners (Amazon).
Re: (Score:2)
Not a bad FP branch, and I can add a relevant citation. The book is mostly about abusing people to increase the profits of giant tech companies and Amazon gets plenty of mentions. They tried to focus the book on AI, and that's where most of the examples come from, but it's really a broader thing. If there is interest in more books [On Slashdot? ROFLMAO] I can dig up some others from the last few years. But this one was published last year:
Feeding the Machine by Muldoon, Graham, and Cant.