12/28/00
AMAZON MANAGEMENT STEPS UP ANTI-UNION CAMPAIGN Company Launches Internal Web site to Combat Unionization
Amazon.com management has stepped up its 1930s-style anti-union campaign just in time for the New Year. The company has created a new internal Web site it claims is dedicated to answering questions by customer service representatives about unions and collective bargaining.
But many Amazon workers say the site is yet another offensive against the unionization effort, one that tries to mislead workers by not providing all the facts regarding the law, organizing, unions and collective bargaining.
The Web site poses questions such as "How long can a union use an employee's signed authorization card?" and "If employees are dissatisfied with an elected union, what can they do?" The thinly veiled anti-union theme of the FAQ, cloaked as "neutral" information for employees, is an all too common practice among employers in their campaigns against unionization.
Bill Price, the Vice President of Amazon Customer Service, sent out an e-mail on Wednesday informing the department of the Web site's existence and explaining why the company was making such a move. "We've heard your request for more information," said Price in the email. "This site is one way we can answer your questions and provide you with information on union issues."
Day 2/WashTech responded to the FAQ today, highlighting what it considers to be mistakes and misleading information on the company's Web site.
FOR MORE INFO:
Day 2 Rebuttal to Amazon.com Management's FAQ http://www.washtech.org/day2/122800_rebuttal.html
Union Organizers Criticize Amazon FAQ CNET News. 12/28/00 http://www.washtech.org/news/122800_amazon.html
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