>
>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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