Pocan: “Amazon’s Workers Deserve Better”

MADISON, WI—Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI) released the following statement in response to the results of the union election for Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama.

“The brave workers in Bessemer, Alabama have made history in a state that is not known to be friendly to organized labor against a corporation that has built an empire off too often exploiting its workers. Despite a coordinated campaign of intimidation, union-busting and interference by Amazon, workers stood up to describe their awful working conditions, organized to form a union with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RDSU) and did not back down against Amazon’s corruption.

“We support the RWDSU’s filing an objection to the conduct of the election and related Unfair Labor Practice charges (ULPs) with the National Labor Relations Board—a right that they clearly have under the National Labor Relations Act. Amazon’s workers deserve to be treated better than they have been on the warehouse floor and better than they have been during this election.

“This election has made one thing abundantly clear, workers across the country need the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Right now, the deck is stacked against working people and if the PRO Act was law, Amazon would not have gotten away with much of their union-busting tactics. In fact, Amazon workers would like already have a union. It is imperative that the Senate pass this integral piece of labor legislation.

“We will continue to stand in solidarity with the workers nationwide organizing to form a union, and we won’t rest until Amazon treats its works fairly.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.