Amazon controls 65% of online book sales, making it a giant in the book world. They have become an integral part of many readers – unfortunately they are also known for poor working conditions.
A group of employees at the Amazon Alabama facility trying to unionize has received support from President Joe Biden. His video message, recorded last Sunday, can be seen on the President’s official Twitter account. “Unions put power in the hands of the workers,” explains the president in his two-minute virtual address to the nation.
Around 6,000 workers at an Amazon plant in Bessemer, Alabama, are voting in a monumental vote, according to the New York Times. In the next week they will decide if they will be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.
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Alabama, a well-known battlefield for social justice, is once again facing a rift. Many of the workers and families at the Bessemer facility are black, which highlights the importance of equality for all American workers.
This decision is met with extreme resistance from her employer. Amazon, a company known for its opposition to unions, subjects employees to mandatory meetings. Anti-union leaflets circulate in the toilet cubicles.
However, President Biden has promised to be the “most union-friendly president”. It promotes a positive attitude towards trade unions, a refreshing perspective that is urgently needed in the tense discourse.
A request to support Alabama workers
Recently, several union-friendly groups asked Biden for support from Bessemer, Alabama’s union effort. The most important action a president can take, according to these organizations, is “to have the back of the workers when they question the power of corporations”. President Biden clearly took this request to heart. While avoiding direct confirmation of their efforts, Biden supports the need for these workers to fight for better conditions.
More than 2,000 employees at the Amazonas plant in Bessemer signed cards showing interest in joining the union. This number corresponds to the voting threshold under the rules of the National Labor Relations Board. As a result, the vote can now take place in the coming days.
“The decision to join a union rests with the workers. Period, ”says Biden resolutely. His clear message calls on the Bessemer workers to fight for a living. It is definitely refreshing when a leader fights for Americans!
Check out Biden’s video address
See President Biden’s message on trade unions expressing solidarity:
Workers in Alabama – and across America – are voting on whether to unionize in their workplace. It is an extremely important decision that should be made without intimidation or threats from employers.
Every worker should have a free and fair choice to join a union. pic.twitter.com/2lzbyyii1g
– President Biden (@POTUS) March 1, 2021
