AMAZON workers began voting on whether GMB should be recognised as their union today, after staging more than 30 days of strikes during nearly two years of fighting the retail giant’s union-busting tactics.
More than 3,000 staff will take part in the historic month-long ballot, whose outcome will be legally binding.
Officials from the union visited the company’s Coventry site today after the GMB was granted the right to hold the ballot by the independent Central Arbitration Committee.
Amazon had rejected a request for voluntary recognition and has been accused of union-busting tactics, including daily anti-union seminars, since the announcement of the ballot. The company faces a legal challenge for pressing workers into cancelling their GMB membership.
If GMB emerges victorious, it will be the first time Amazon has recognised a trade union in Britain, leaving the company with a legal obligation to negotiate on terms, pay and conditions at the site.
Workplace meetings on the ballot began today and will run until July 8, with the result to be announce after July 15.
GMB rep Stuart Richards told the Morning Star that the scare-tactics employed by managers had been exploded in the 45-minute meetings.
He also described how Amazon had delayed making arrangements for the ballot over the past four weeks, including by refusing to speak to GMB except through lawyers, demanding that officials were escorted by security guards between meetings and that they use Portaloo toilets at the Coventry site.
Mr Richards, who said recognition could lead to pay demands rising above £15 per hour, added that the meetings had revealed that workers had been scared by managers into thinking unionising would mean that hey would lose shift patterns and benefits or see the Coventry site close.
He said: “I’ve been involved with the GMB for a quarter of a century and I’ve never seen an access agreement approaching anything like this.
“Having GMB plastered all over the inside of Amazon is a real victory for the workers and I’m totally confident that they are going to win.”
GMB senior organiser Amanda Gearing said: “Amazon is one of the world’s most hostile and anti-union employers.
“But right here Coventry, Amazon workers have rejected Amazon’s attempts to smash their union.”
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “This is a vital chance for Amazon workers to secure better pay, conditions and an independent voice at work.
“Instead of valuing their workforce, the company has thrown the kitchen sink at trying to stop workers organising.”
An Amazon spokesperson said: “Our employees have the choice of whether or not to join a union. They always have.”
