Bessemer (United States) (AFP)

The vote for or against the creation of a union in an Amazon warehouse in Alabama, which would be the first in the United States, ends Monday after more than 5 months of a David-style campaign against Goliath, already considered as historical regardless of the verdict of the ballot box.

"We are exhausted. Our personal relationships are on the brink of disaster. But I am proud of the team and the workers at Amazon who have stepped up," said Joshua Brewer, local president of RWDSU, the distribution union that will represent the 5,800 employees of the Bessemer site, if they vote in favor.

"Amazon's worst fear has already happened: 3,000 employees said they could not work in these conditions," he continues for AFP.

Since last fall, members of the union have taken turns day and night at the entrance of the huge brand new complex, to collect enough agreements in principle (they have had 3,000), then to convince them to transform the test.

The counting of votes is due to begin on Tuesday.

"We want to be treated with respect and dignity", summarizes Jennifer Bates, one of the employees invested in the movement.

"It means safe working conditions, job security, and wages to match."

When she was hired, Lafonda Townsend, another employee, was "happy with the salary".

"But that was before I saw how hard it is. The break room is very far away, and you have to eat like a prisoner, super fast, to be back in time, because if you have a minute in late, you are counted an unpaid hour ".

- Power -

The e-commerce giant hired hard in 2020, and almost doubled its net profit to $ 21 billion, thanks to the explosion in demand during a pandemic.

But the second largest American employer (800,000 employees) finds itself embroiled in a bitter communication struggle.

Its spokespersons recently attacked on Twitter elected officials who support the union.

They also denied the problem of workers forced to urinate in plastic bottles for lack of time to go to the toilet, contrary to comments and photos reported by various media.

There, the group employs all manner of deterrence tactics, from texts touting the benefits to posters in the washrooms.

According to employees, in "briefings" Amazon waved the scarecrow of high union dues (nearly $ 500 per year) and insisted on current earnings of at least $ 15 per hour, more than double the amount. minimum wage in this poor state.

But Joshua Brewer notes that "other warehouses in the area pay $ 18-20 an hour."

For this former pastor and many observers, it is less about finances than exercising absolute control.

"Like most American employers, Amazon wants to maintain its power over everything, and ensure that workers can not negotiate anything," said Rebecca Givan, professor of labor relations at Rutgers University.

- Inspiration -

According to her, the Seattle group is ready to "almost unlimited spending" to "prove that any attempt is doomed to failure and discourage other employees in advance."

Amazon doesn't just have Bessemer detractors.

His arrival a year ago has been hailed as a factor of attractiveness and "the most significant investment in the history of the city" by its mayor Kenneth Gulley.

"If all of this negativity and horrible stories were true, that would mean there are 5,800 idiots working in the construction industry. Now I don't work with any idiot, and I'm not an idiot," he told the AFP Dawn Hoag, a 43-year-old warehouse quality manager.

She considers that her colleagues do not need representatives to be heard and shows her pride at having lost about fifty kilos, in particular thanks to the kilometers covered on foot every day on the site.

Darryl Richardson, the employee behind the movement, has also lost weight in recent months, but due to fatigue and stress.

"My body is not going to hold (at this rate)," said the 51-year-old African-American.

"People ask me why I'm not looking for another job? Easier said than done! I'm too old, I don't present well. It's time to fight."

His message to RWDSU last summer has already inspired many others, says Joshua Brewer: "We have received over 1,000 requests from over 50 different warehouses."

© 2021 AFP