>Well, it's certainly encouraging to know that Amazon.com says it will abide
>by the law if the union is certified. Will it by by thw law until then, in
>the certification process? --jks
Unfortunately, holding captive audience meetings and harassing individual workers is completely legal, so Amazon.com can engage in a whole range of intimidating union-busting without even crossing the line. And of course, even if they do cross the line and fire someone, they don't have to worry about the penalty for quite a long time and the punishment will be no more than back pay.
So promising to obey the law is a pretty hollow promise.
-- Nathan
>
>After complaining about the problems with their first position on
>unionization when they wrote me, I received this second reply from
>Amazon.com, a slight concession that labor laws do exist in this country.
>
>-- Nathan Newman
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <orders at amazon.com>
>To: <nathan at newman.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 8:21 AM
>Subject: Re: Your Feedback to Amazon.com
>
>
>Thank you for writing back to us at Amazon.com.
>
>As we've stated before, Amazon.com does not believe that unions would
>benefit its employees or its customers.
>
>However, if our employees seek an election and vote for unionization,
>the company will of course respect and abide by their decision, and
>will comply with all relevant labor laws.
>
>Rest assured that I have passed your message on to the appropriate
>individuals within our company.
>
>Thank you again for taking the time to let us know how you feel about
>this issue.
>
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Henry St. Claire
>Happy Holidays from Amazon.com!
>http://www.amazon.com
>Free shipping on Amazon.com orders over $100! Offer ends December 10th.
>(restrictions may apply)
>==============================
>Check your order and more! http://www.amazon.com/your-account
>Questions? We have your answers! http://www.amazon.com/help
>
> >Date: Thu Nov 30 22:45:26 PST 2000
> >Subject: Re: Your Feedback to Amazon.com
> >To: <feedback at amazon.com>
> >From: nathan at newman.org
>
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: <feedback at amazon.com>
> >>Amazon.com recognizes that its employees have the right to seek union
> >>representation if they so choose. However, the company does not
> >>believe that a union will benefit its employees or customers.
> >
> >Thank you for your letter back, but the basic point, it is not up to the
> >management to have an opinion on what is best for the employees. It is
> >there decision and any attempt to browbeat them and thereby threaten them
>is
> >an attack on their rights. You are free to put out leaflets explaining
>your
> >position, but any meetings between supervisors and employees to attack
>the
> >union is inherently coercive.
> >
> >As well, as someone who supports unionism in general, your general
>attacks
> >on unions as institutions offends me. So just as you may have an opinion
> >about unions, I have an opinion (negative) about companies who fight
> >unionism.
> >
> >And I will choose not to patronize companies that attack their workers
> >efforts to unionize.
> >
> >Yours,
> >
> >Nathan Newman
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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