Amazon Labor Union Rejected 618-380 at Second Staten Island Facility

Jubilant only a month ago, ALU and its president get their comeuppance. Lawyer plans to contest results.

The independent Amazon Labor Union, which had shocked the world just a month ago by winning an election against the online giant, was deal a crushing blow on Monday as the majority of employees rejected unionization.

“In a ballot count held by the National Labor Relations Board, workers at the Amazon sorting facility known as LDJ5 rejected unionizing by a count of 618-380,” reports HuffPost’s Dave Jamieson. “The labor board has not yet certified the results to make them official, and the union may challenge them.”

While the outcome may have come as a shock to the Amazon Labor Union and the union’s president, Chris Smalls, on Twitter, Smalls and his union tried to put a positive spin on the loss afterwards.

Christian Smalls @Shut_downAmazon

Despite todays outcome I’m proud of the worker/organizers of LDJ5 they had a tougher challenge after our victory at JFK8.Our leads should be extremely proud to have given their coworkers a right to join a Union @amazonlabor will continue to organize and so should all of you

Christian Smalls @Shut_downAmazon

Nothing changes we organize! do not be discouraged or sad be upset and talk to your coworkers

Christian Smalls @Shut_downAmazon

We still have 8,300 to get a contract for plenty of work to be done @amazonlabor ✊🏽

Amazon Labor Union @amazonlabor

The count has finished. The election has concluded without the union being recognized at LDJ5—sortation center on Staten Island. The organizing will continue at this facility and beyond. The fight has just begun. #ALU

After its defeat, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler offered support for the Amazon Labor Union.

Liz Shuler @lizshuler

The @AFLCIO stands in solidarity with the brave @amazonlabor workers who are changing the world and just getting started. In the words of Mother Jones, in the face of adversity we don't mourn — we organize! #1u

“Amazon Labor Union's loss at LDJ5 in Staten Island shows that despite its stunning upset in April, unionization efforts at Amazon still face an uphill battle,” wrote Vice.com’s Lauren Kaori Gurley.

“I’m not surprised at this result with all the union busting that went on at LDJ5,” said Seth Goldstein, a New Jersey labor attorney who represents Amazon Labor Union pro-bono, and has filed more than 40 unfair labor practices charges against Amazon on their behalf. “We will certainly contest the election. They violated laboratory conditions in this election with mandatory anti-union meetings and we've already got a whole series of charges against them."

The union has until seven business days—May 9th—to object to the election.

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