Amazon Union Gets Favorable Finding on Warehouse Access for Organizing

    In recent history, Amazon has barred the use of work sites for off-duty workers. They had made a rule that no employee was allowed to remain on the work site beyond 15 minutes within their shifts. This posed an issue for the Amazon Labor Union. The Amazon Labor Union claimed that this rule interfered with their rights to reach out to coworkers about their own labor union, whether it be supporting their own union or to consider joining another. Amazon argued that the rule wasn't meant to directly affect the activities of the labor union. They meant for the rule to be an act towards security and employee safety. However, recently the National Labor Relations Board has found this rule put forth by Amazon to be illegal as it infringes upon Amazon workers' union rights.

    I believe it was a podcast we had listened to about markets a few months ago that had talked about how markets seem to weed out these seemingly unstoppable companies. Perhaps we're starting to see this in action. I don't think actions like these will bring down Amazon, however I do think that things are like this are going to put a stop to the idea that Amazon is untouchable. I remember during the pandemic everyone was so afraid of Amazon because that's what everyone relied on. Things like this along with their layoffs as of late just go to show that companies can't be truly all powerful in a market economy. Sure Amazon was the ultimate powerhouse for a while, when everyone is stuck at home and can't leave without a mask of course they're going to order stuff online. Amazon had a boom and now I believe we're starting to see it settle.

 

Source:  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/23/business/economy/amazon-labor-union-nlrb.html