Workers at Amazon’s fulfillment center in Garner, North Carolina, have voted decisively against unionizing, with 2,447 employees rejecting the effort and 829 in favor.
The union drive, led by Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE), sought to secure higher wages, longer breaks and increased vacation time.
Amazon currently pays warehouse employees between $18 and $24 per hour, while CAUSE had pushed for a starting wage of $30.
Despite the defeat, CAUSE remains active. The group has accused Amazon of interfering in the process, claiming that the company barred off-duty employees from the warehouse lobby as they attempted to share vote results online.
“Amazon is flagrantly violating labor law right in front of the labor board,” the union stated on its website.
While CAUSE has not yet said whether it will challenge the outcome with the National Labor Relations Board, it has committed to continuing its efforts.
This vote marks a setback for labor organizers seeking to expand union representation within Amazon’s vast logistics network. However, momentum for unionization has grown elsewhere in the company.
In June 2024, Amazon drivers in New York City overwhelmingly voted to join the Teamsters union.
Additionally, during the 2024 holiday season, Amazon warehouse employees staged walkouts at seven fulfillment centers, putting pressure on the company during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
Amazon has faced previous legal challenges over its handling of labor organizing. In December 2023, a judge ruled that the company had unlawfully intimidated employees at two New York City facilities who were attempting to unionize.
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