A National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) judge ruled that Amazon and its consultants violated labour laws by intimidating workers and using racial slurs at a Staten Island warehouse. The violations occurred at JFK8, Amazon’s largest New York warehouse, from May to October 2021.
In April 2022, JFK8 employees voted to join the Amazon Labour Union (ALU), the first unionised Amazon facility in the US. The judge heard testimony over nearly a year, revealing illegal confiscation of organising materials and surveillance of employees’ union activities by Amazon.
The judge opined that Amazon violated labour laws by retaliating against an employee, Daequan Smith, from a nearby facility who supported the union. Smith, working at DYY6, was sent home early and had his assignments changed, leading to his firing in November, 2021.
The judge also found Amazon at fault for hiring a “union avoidance” consultant, Bradley Moss, who threatened employees against joining the ALU. As a result, Amazon must post notices about workers’ rights at JFK8 and DYY6 and compensate Smith for any loss of earnings and benefits.
Moss allegedly downplayed a union campaign in Bessemer, Alabama, calling it a ‘Black Lives Matter protest’ and labelling workers at JFK8 as ‘thugs’.
While Amazon refused to agree with certain points while reviewing the judge’s decision, it did agree that the terminated individual should not be reinstated, according to spokesperson Eileen Hards.
