NBC: Amazon workers rally for a union in Alabama

 Local NBC affiliate WVTM 13 reports that workers at the Bessemer, AL Amazon warehouse rallied over the weekend in support of their unionization efforts.

The rally followed a decision earlier in the week by the National Labor Relations Board to allow the vote to go ahead despite Amazon's objections to the vote being conducted via mail in ballots.

The Counter: Amazon workers to vote on companies first American union

 The Counter reported on Monday that 6,000 Amazon employees at the companies Bessemer, AL warehouse will begin a weeks long vote on unionization in February.

If successful, the union organized under New York based Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) would be the first in Amazon's U.S. operations.

Amazon has a long history of anti-union activities and has stymied organizing drives in the past, but organizers believe the Bessemer warehouse could finally break open organizing at the nations second largest employer. A victory would launch an avalanche of organizing for other Amazon locations as well as Whole Food grocery stores.

Amazon has come under increasing scrutiny for its labor practices and workplace safety, scrutiny that has only increased in the past year as workers have raised concerns about working conditions under a global pandemic.

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017 ULW recommends

Happy New Year to union activists from Union Library Worker!  Recommended acquisition for 2017 for all library collections the 2nd edition of Troublemaker's Handbook from the folks at Labor Notes (you ought to subscribe to it as well).   Support and inspire the social/workplace/environmental justice activists in your community!

http://www.labornotes.org/store/troublemakers-handbook-2

Plymouth State University Faculty File Petition to Join Union

Faculty at Plymouth State University have filed a petition to join the American Association of University Professors. Gary McCool, a librarian at the university, said:  

"The entire university community benefits when faculty are empowered to help ensure the quality of education at PSU by having fairly negotiated, legally binding policies and conditions of employment."

An election is anticipated to be held in the coming months.

University of Victoria Faculty Form Union

After a successful union drive, librarians and faculty at the University of Victoria have voted in favour of forming a union. First step for the newly formed union will be to negotiate a contract with the university administration.

University of Victoria Union Drive Update

Sixty-three percent of professors and librarians signed union cards during the recent union drive at the University of Victoria, surpassing the required percent of signatures needed for the faculty association to apply for certification with the British Columbia Labour Relations Board. A vote on the formation of the new faculty union will soon be taking place.

Union Drive at University of Victoria

A union drive is underway at the University of Victoria. Forty-five percent of faculty and librarians must sign on to the bid to form a new union before a certification vote can be held. Faculty at the university are currently represented by a faculty association.