Amazon Labour Union

On March 30, 2020, Chris Smalls organized a walkout protest in Amazon’s JFK8 warehouse (Wikipedia, “Chris Smalls”). Just two weeks ago, Amazon allowed a worker to come into the warehouse with clear symptoms of Covid-19. Later, this was confirmed to be a diagnosed Covid-19 case. Smalls was exposed to this patient, and challenged Amazon’s handling of the pandemic. He had previously raised issues with other Amazon policies, alleging Amazon has issues with safety protocols, citing the injury rate, ageism, sexism, racism, and discrimination against caregivers (Wikipedia, “Chris Smalls”). Finally, on March 30, 2020 he walked out with a cohort of his workers in an attempt to protest Amazon’s policies. He was fired on the same day (Wikipedia, “Chris Smalls”).

Amazon’s Side

Amazon’s Senior VP Jay Carney released his statement about the incident. He stated that Smalls had violated company policy by organizing during a quarantine period. However, considering Smalls had been exposed to the infected patient on March 11th, his quarantine period should have finished by March 25th, 5 days before he organized (Wikipedia, “Chris Smalls”). This statement was met with scrutiny by top government officials, such as New York AG Letitia James and Senator Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The VP of Amazon Web Services also quit over this incident, stating, “I’m sure it’s a coincidence that every one of them is a person of color, a woman, or both, right?” (Iqbal, The Guardian).

Workers Unionize

Smalls had realized that this was not a one off issue, and that Amazon had a history of discrimination and mismanagement if it meant maximising profit. He concluded that the solution is to lead a grassroots movement in order to get the workers to unionize (Wikipedia, “Amazon Labor Union”). News organization Vice released a leaked memo from Jeff Bezos’ office dated April 2, 2020 (McCallum, VICE). The memo referred to Smalls as “not smart or articulate.” The memo further discussed a smear campaign against Smalls, and ideas to get more “PR wins” (McCallum, VICE). This memo highlighted that Amazon’s discriminatory policies were not accidental or free of malicious intent, rather their executives were aware and proud of the ideology that shaped their policies. After two years of organizing, collecting signatures and campaigning to the people, the vote to form a union took place. The workers at JFK8 voted 2,654–2,131 in favor of the union (Amazon Labor Union, amazonlaborunion.org).

Some Wins for ALU

• Right to wear headphones: For years, Amazon refused to allow headphones to be worn, even in departments that required little coordination between employees such as Pack and PCF. ALU secured the right for workers to wear headphones (Amazon Labor Union, amazonlaborunion.org).
• Functioning AC: ALU pushed Amazon to fix broken AC systems and repair fans to keep the heat under control (Amazon Labor Union, amazonlaborunion.org).
• Paid Time Off During Emergencies: Amazon would force workers to work during in-building emergencies or send them home without pay. ALU set a precedent of Amazon sending workers home WITH pay when it is unsafe for work to continue (Amazon Labor Union, amazonlaborunion.org).

Why Non-reformist

The Amazon Labor Union represents a non-reformist approach because it does not simply ask Amazon to improve conditions within the existing system. Instead, it challenges the power structure that allows those conditions to exist in the first place (Wikipedia, “Amazon Labor Union”). Rather than relying on corporate goodwill or minor policy adjustments, ALU shifts power directly into the hands of workers through collective organization and bargaining. This movement shows that issues such as unsafe working conditions, discrimination, and profit-driven decision-making are not isolated mistakes, but are built into the way large corporations operate. By organizing independently, without affiliation to established unions, ALU also demonstrates that workers themselves can lead and sustain movements for change from the ground up (Amazon Labor Union, amazonlaborunion.org). Ultimately, the success of the Amazon Labor Union at JFK8 is not just about headphones, air conditioning, or paid time off. It is about establishing a model of worker empowerment that challenges corporate authority and redefines what is possible for labor movements in the modern economy (Wikipedia, “Amazon Labor Union”).

References: Wikipedia. “Chris Smalls.” Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Smalls. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
McCallum, Will. “Leaked Amazon Memo Details Plan to Smear Fired Warehouse Organizer.” VICE, 4 June 2021. https://www.vice.com/en/article/leaked-amazon-memo-details-plan-to-smear-fired-warehouse-organizer-hes-not-smart-or-articulate/
Iqbal, Mansoor. “Amazon Workers in Staten Island and Christian Smalls.” The Guardian, 4 June 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jun/04/amazon-workers-staten-island-christian-smalls
Amazon Labor Union. amazonlaborunion.org. https://www.amazonlaborunion.org/ Wikipedia. “Amazon Labor Union.” Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Labor_Union \