Get ready for union organizing on steroids

Against the backdrop of a new presidential administration, an evolving workforce, and a changing economy brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the landscape for union organizing has radically changed in 2021. While the nation's attention was currently focused on the failed campaign to unionize the workforce at megaretailer Amazon's warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, employers of all sizes and across all industries should anticipate increased and more sophisticated endeavors to unionize their workplaces. The time to start planning to address those efforts begins now.

Alabama union campaign

Alabama isn't typically considered a union-friendly area. Nevertheless, Amazon's Bessemer warehouse had been engaged in an all-out union organizing campaign for several months.

Approximately 6,000 warehouse employees were involved in the decision of whether they wanted to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU). In the end, the majority of voters voted not to join the union.

Union's campaign strategy

Employees' interest in the possibility of unionization persisted despite Amazon's recent increase in hourly wages and its promise to retrain the workforce. By all accounts, workplace safety standards, workloads, breaks, compensation, and employee monitoring were the main issues pressed by union supporters.