At Amazon, a major IT company in the United States, a vote was held asking whether or not to form a labor union at the request of employees for improved treatment such as wages, and the ballot counting work began on the 30th.
As income inequality becomes a social problem, even in Amazon, where business performance continues to expand, there is a movement from employees to correct the inequality, and the results are attracting attention.
Aiming to form a union is employees working at Amazon's distribution center in southern Alabama, where their wages are too low, while managers and others are highly paid. , He said that the break time is also severely restricted, and is appealing for improvement of treatment.
In response to these employee calls, a mail ballot was held from last month to this month asking the pros and cons of forming a labor union for more than 5,800 employees working at distribution centers.
The ballot counting process will begin on the 30th, and if the majority of the votes are approved, the formation of an Amazon trade union will be approved for the first time in the United States.
Meanwhile, Amazon has called on employees to oppose it, including through its website, and local media have reported that Amazon may challenge the voting results or refuse to conclude an agreement with the union.
It would be a big change if a labor union was formed to conduct collective bargaining at major IT companies in the United States, as the form of individually deciding wages according to business performance has become established.
As income inequality becomes a social problem in the United States, even in Amazon, where business performance continues to expand, management is urging management to correct the inequality, and the results of ballot counting are attracting attention.
Employee "In the midst of a pandemic, an hourly wage of $ 15 is not worth it"
This is Darryl Richardson, 51, an Amazon employee who is aiming to form a labor union to improve treatment.
I've been working at an Amazon distribution center in southern Alabama for a year now, but I think I'm over-managed because I'm busy at work and the time to go to the bathroom is measured.
In addition, Richardson's hourly wage is about $ 15 and his annual income is only about 3 million yen, while the average annual income of employees such as clerical workers and engineers in the company is about 15 million yen, which is a big difference.
"I'm working in a pandemic, but $ 15 an hour isn't worth it. CEO Bezos wants us to pay homage and raise wages," Richardson said.
On the other hand, Amazon argues that there is no indication that it is a harsh working environment due to benefits such as medical insurance.
In addition, Amazon created a dedicated website, in which it called for opposition to the formation, saying that joining a labor union would incur union dues.
President Biden also expressed support for employees
On the other hand, this vote is attracting a great deal of attention not only because of the confrontation between employees seeking to form a labor union and the company that shows an opposition, but also because it involves politics.
President Biden posted a video message on social media last month saying, "Workers are now voting for union formation in Alabama and across the United States. There should be no threats or anti-union propaganda." Although he did not mention the company name, he expressed his support for Amazon employees.
In addition, Senators Sanders of the ruling party and the Democratic Party of Japan and Senator Rubio of the opposition party and the Republican Party are also proposing support for employees one after another, with the aim of appealing to gain the support of the workers for the election. It seems that.
Changes as employee interest in protecting rights grows
Until now, trade unions have not been formed at major IT companies in the United States, but changes are emerging as income inequality becomes a social issue and interest in protecting employee rights grows.
Except for Amazon, where a vote was held to ask whether a trade union should be formed, in January, employees of Google and the holding company Alphabet formed a trade union.
Currently, the number of participants is more than 800, which is a small scale compared to the total number of employees, but it is said that it will work together to deal with unjustified dismissals of employees.
Professor John Logan of San Francisco State University, who is familiar with the labor movement of IT companies, said, "In the United States, inequality and discrimination in the workplace resonate with Senator Sanders and the" Black Lives Matter "movement that calls for the eradication of racial discrimination. More and more people are calling for the elimination of this. If a labor union is formed in the United States, the labor movement by employees of IT companies will become even more active. "