NEW: During the union election, Amazon representatives called workers at home to see if they had turned in ballots and if they needed any "help" filling it out.
At the NLRB hearing, Amazon worker Jennifer Bates shared how Amazon reacted to learning she was pro-union:
At the NLRB hearing, Amazon worker Jennifer Bates shared how Amazon reacted to learning she was pro-union:
Warehouse employee Jennifer Bates worked as an "ambassador" at Amazon's Alabama warehouse, training and fostering a positive culture with new employees.
She went public with her union support in an interview last January.
She went public with her union support in an interview last January.
By February, after going public about being pro-union, Amazon scrapped Bates's job without cause and placed her on the factory line, isolated from others.
Bates said they changed her role inexplicably despite knowing that she had health issues that made line work challenging.
Bates said they changed her role inexplicably despite knowing that she had health issues that made line work challenging.
Bates said she was required to attend a captive-audience meeting in which Amazon representatives scared employees about losing their benefits.
Amazon reps claimed that union leaders would use workers' dues to "buy brand new cars and go on lavish vacations."
Amazon reps claimed that union leaders would use workers' dues to "buy brand new cars and go on lavish vacations."
Bates said Amazon managers even called her at home. Her Amazon managers wanted to know if she'd turned in her ballot and if she needed any "help" filling it out.
This is in addition to the stream of text messages that Amazon sent warning workers against voting for the union.
This is in addition to the stream of text messages that Amazon sent warning workers against voting for the union.
After the union drive began, Bates said Amazon put up posters advertising "The Offer." Amazon pays people to quit so they can cycle in new workers who can’t vote. This can be illegal during a union election.
New workers are often paid less & are less likely to vote for a union.
New workers are often paid less & are less likely to vote for a union.
Later, Amazon supervisors offered Jennifer a promotion to a "PA" role. The catch? She would have to work on behalf of management, delivering their messages to other workers.
Within two days of the union drive going public, employees received 30-55 cent raises.
Amazon HR also began offering workers various prizes as they left the building, she said.
Highlights included cookies, candy, Gatorade, and Amazon shirts with "vote" printed on them.
Amazon HR also began offering workers various prizes as they left the building, she said.
Highlights included cookies, candy, Gatorade, and Amazon shirts with "vote" printed on them.
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