THE historic ballot on Amazon union recognition was lost after failing to reach a majority by just 28 votes, GMB said today.

The union said it will mount a legal challenge over the retail giant’s union-busting tactics after workers at the online giant’s Coventry site voted 49.5 per cent in favour of union recognition.

GMB regional organiser Ferdousara Uddin said “disappointment is an understatement,” but that the campaign has been an immensely valuable learning experience for the wider union movement.

She told the Morning Star that the vote was lost due to Amazon playing “massively on fear” against the majority migrant workforce.

"It is a positive change for the union movement that for the Amazon workers we have had to change and try different things [...] we have learnt so so much,” she said.

She said Amazon convinced many employees that GMB would act as an external body making decisions on their behalf, rather than being composed of workers, suggesting that unionising could delay worker pay reviews for years.

Many of the temporary workers feared for their work visas or that they might be subject to the violent anti-trade union oppression that occurs in their native countries, she said.

They also experienced difficulties casting their votes by post due to living in houses of multiple occupation and being abroad, said Ms Uddin, adding that GMB would have won the vote if electronic balloting, which Labour has vowed to introduce in its manifesto, was available.

GMB senior organiser Amanda Gearing said: “Our members have come agonisingly close to winning today and GMB will carry on the fight for the pay and recognition they deserve.

“We’ve seen workers pressured into attending six hours of anti-union seminars on top of the fortune spent by Amazon bosses to scare workers.

“Amazon now faces a legal challenge, while the fire lit by workers in Coventry and across the UK is still burning.”

Rosa Curling, director of Foxglove, the legal non-profit supporting GMB, said: “It’s time for Amazon to answer for its bullying, threats and unlawful one-click-to-quit QR codes.

“We are proud to be supporting over 900 workers in their inducement claims and we look forward to seeing Amazon in court.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Amazon has thrown everything at trying to stop workers from having an independent voice at work. 

“This is not the end. Our movement will regroup and will continue to shine a light on bad employers.” 

Amazon said it places “enormous value on engaging directly with our employees and having daily conversations with them.”