Workers at Amazon warehouse in North Carolina seeking to unionize

GARNER, N.C. (WNCN) — Local Amazon workers at the large RDU1 warehouse on Jones Sausage Road in Garner are trying to form a union.

“We would have a voice,” said Mary Hill, the vice president of the Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment.

Hill has worked at RDU1 for the last four years She says she was initially excited to work at the warehouse, especially when she started during the pandemic, because she would have the opportunity to play a part in making sure everyone got their packages. “After about four, maybe five months, I started seeing how the managers talked to you with such disrespect, just lack of common decency,” she said.

Organizers say the unionization efforts have been years in the making.

“We’ve reached a point where a lot of workers are extremely frustrated,” C.A.U.S.E. President Ryan Brown said. “[A union] would give us an opportunity to have our voice put pressure on this company.”

C.A.U.S.E. hopes to deliver bigger paychecks, more time off and other benefits for employees at the facility.

“My rent’s gone up, gas has gone up, light bill has gone up,” Hill said. “What hasn’t gone up? My paycheck.”

Workers at other Amazon facilities across the country have attempted similar unionization efforts. But so far, only employees at a warehouse on Staten Island, NY are successfully organized.

“We have studied those campaigns,” Brown said. “Anything and everything about those campaigns, we study.”

In response to the launch of the unionization campaign, Amazon Spokesperson Eileen Hards released the following statement:

“Our employees have the choice of whether or not to join a union. They always have. We favor opportunities for each person to be respected and valued as an individual, and to have their unique voice heard by working directly with our team. The fact is, Amazon already offers what many unions are requesting: competitive pay, health benefits on day one, and opportunities for career growth. We look forward to working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work.”

C.A.U.S.E. says if 30% of the workforce at RDU1 signs their unionization authorization cards, they can hold an official union election.

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