At Amazon's RDU1 fulfillment center in North Carolina, the workers are currently voting on union representation for the CAUSE organization amidst heavy resistance from the company. Starting in early February, a bright yellow tent was erected to serve as the union's headquarters, contrasting starkly with the warehouse's drab exterior. Workers, numbering nearly 5,000, have been approached by union organizers advocating for a stronger voice in the workplace, primarily driven by safety concerns during the ongoing pandemic. In response, Amazon has employed various tactics to deter unionization, including deploying managers for anti-union efforts and restrictions on the union's visibility.
"This place is starting to turn into a labor camp," said Italo Medelius, an RDU1 worker and organizer with CAUSE.
Rev. Ryan Brown, CAUSE's president, started organizing with his coworkers in January 2022 because he felt the company was not adequately protecting workers from Covid-19.
Managers and HR professionals from across the country have flown in to patrol the shop floor and repeat anti-union talking points in small group meetings.
The union movement at the Amazon RDU1 warehouse represents a significant push for workers' rights amid ongoing corporate resistance and union-busting tactics.
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