SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - The GMB lost by 28 votes in its historic attempt to gain union recognition at the Amazon warehouse in Coventry. In the ballot for union recognition, about 2,600 employees participated.
The goal was to compel Amazon to collectively negotiate with the majority of workers on various work-related aspects. Unfortunately, the endeavor fell short, with only 49.5% of the balloted employees supporting the motion, while 50.5% opposed it.
Amazon, being one of the UK's largest private sector employers, had been clear about its stance against recognizing a union and wanting to retain direct communication with its staff, as reported by BBC.
The narrow loss resulted in the GMB expressing disappointment at the close outcome and accusing Amazon of anti-union activities. They highlighted instances of company leaders promoting anti-union sentiments, including organizing anti-union workshops at the warehouse. Employees alleged company pressure to attend seminars suggesting union membership could impact pay and benefits. Concerns were also raised about QR codes displayed for easy cancellation of union memberships, potentially violating anti-inducement laws.
The GMB has been striving for over a decade to strengthen its presence within Amazon, particularly at the Rugeley site. Momentum picked up at the Coventry warehouse following spontaneous strikes in 2022.
Winning the vote would have marked the first union recognition by Amazon in the UK. However, formal bid restrictions apply for three years, and any new recognition attempt would involve demonstrating changes in the eligible voting workforce to the Central Arbitration Committee, responsible for overseeing recognition applications.
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