Amazon fired Jennifer Bates, lead spokesperson of the defeated unionization campaign in Bessemer, Alabama, without cause on June 2, 2023.
'She Would Not Be Silenced—Nor Will We': Fired Amazon Organizer Reinstated
"If there's a lesson to be learned," said Jennifer Bates, "it's that today Amazon workers everywhere now know that when you're under attack, you have to stand up and fight back, because when we fight, clearly, we win!"
Labor advocates cheered Thursday as Amazon reinstated a worker who was wrongfully fired earlier this month after leading a unionization effort at one of the online retail giant's Alabama warehouses.
Jennifer Bates, the lead worker spokesperson for the Bessemer, Alabama Amazon fulfillment center union drive, was reinstated with back pay.
"Amazon was wrong, they tried to fire me and stifle a movement, but the movement pushed back, and I'm incredibly humbled by the global outpouring of support for my unjust termination," Bates said in a statement.
"If there's a lesson to be learned," she added, "it's that today Amazon workers everywhere now know that when you're under attack, you have to stand up and fight back, because when we fight, clearly, we win!"
\u201cBREAKING: today, Jennifer Bates, the lead worker spokeswoman of the @BAmazonUnion drive, received notice she had been reinstated by the company after filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Amazon.\n\nFor @sappelbaum & @Jennife67173021's statements: \nhttps://t.co/vKo91UPFGM\u201d— RWDSU (@RWDSU) 1686863137
Stuart Applebaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU)—which represents the Bessemer warehouse workers—said that "Amazon tried to stifle one of the most outspoken leaders of the contemporary labor movement."
"Today, Amazon had to admit it was wrong—because the world stood up and said no," Applebaum added. "Jennifer made it clear that despite the company's extraordinary power and resources, she would not be silenced—nor will we."
Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis said that "as is our standard process for this type of situation, Ms. Bates had the opportunity to, and did, appeal her termination."
"After a full review of her case, the decision was made to reinstate her," Paradis added. "We're pleased that our appeal process continues to work as designed."
The National Labor Relations Board, which found that Amazon engaged in illegal union-busting leading up to the unsuccessful April 2021 Bessemer vote, ordered a second election that took place last year and is still being contested due to what RWDSU alleges is interference "with the employees' exercise of a free and reasoned choice."
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just days away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Labor advocates cheered Thursday as Amazon reinstated a worker who was wrongfully fired earlier this month after leading a unionization effort at one of the online retail giant's Alabama warehouses.
Jennifer Bates, the lead worker spokesperson for the Bessemer, Alabama Amazon fulfillment center union drive, was reinstated with back pay.
"Amazon was wrong, they tried to fire me and stifle a movement, but the movement pushed back, and I'm incredibly humbled by the global outpouring of support for my unjust termination," Bates said in a statement.
"If there's a lesson to be learned," she added, "it's that today Amazon workers everywhere now know that when you're under attack, you have to stand up and fight back, because when we fight, clearly, we win!"
\u201cBREAKING: today, Jennifer Bates, the lead worker spokeswoman of the @BAmazonUnion drive, received notice she had been reinstated by the company after filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Amazon.\n\nFor @sappelbaum & @Jennife67173021's statements: \nhttps://t.co/vKo91UPFGM\u201d— RWDSU (@RWDSU) 1686863137
Stuart Applebaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU)—which represents the Bessemer warehouse workers—said that "Amazon tried to stifle one of the most outspoken leaders of the contemporary labor movement."
"Today, Amazon had to admit it was wrong—because the world stood up and said no," Applebaum added. "Jennifer made it clear that despite the company's extraordinary power and resources, she would not be silenced—nor will we."
Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis said that "as is our standard process for this type of situation, Ms. Bates had the opportunity to, and did, appeal her termination."
"After a full review of her case, the decision was made to reinstate her," Paradis added. "We're pleased that our appeal process continues to work as designed."
The National Labor Relations Board, which found that Amazon engaged in illegal union-busting leading up to the unsuccessful April 2021 Bessemer vote, ordered a second election that took place last year and is still being contested due to what RWDSU alleges is interference "with the employees' exercise of a free and reasoned choice."
- Jennifer Bates News and Opinion | Common Dreams ›
- Amazon Fires Alabama Union Leader Who 'Lit the Spark of the Current Rise of Labor Activism' ›
Labor advocates cheered Thursday as Amazon reinstated a worker who was wrongfully fired earlier this month after leading a unionization effort at one of the online retail giant's Alabama warehouses.
Jennifer Bates, the lead worker spokesperson for the Bessemer, Alabama Amazon fulfillment center union drive, was reinstated with back pay.
"Amazon was wrong, they tried to fire me and stifle a movement, but the movement pushed back, and I'm incredibly humbled by the global outpouring of support for my unjust termination," Bates said in a statement.
"If there's a lesson to be learned," she added, "it's that today Amazon workers everywhere now know that when you're under attack, you have to stand up and fight back, because when we fight, clearly, we win!"
\u201cBREAKING: today, Jennifer Bates, the lead worker spokeswoman of the @BAmazonUnion drive, received notice she had been reinstated by the company after filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Amazon.\n\nFor @sappelbaum & @Jennife67173021's statements: \nhttps://t.co/vKo91UPFGM\u201d— RWDSU (@RWDSU) 1686863137
Stuart Applebaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU)—which represents the Bessemer warehouse workers—said that "Amazon tried to stifle one of the most outspoken leaders of the contemporary labor movement."
"Today, Amazon had to admit it was wrong—because the world stood up and said no," Applebaum added. "Jennifer made it clear that despite the company's extraordinary power and resources, she would not be silenced—nor will we."
Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis said that "as is our standard process for this type of situation, Ms. Bates had the opportunity to, and did, appeal her termination."
"After a full review of her case, the decision was made to reinstate her," Paradis added. "We're pleased that our appeal process continues to work as designed."
The National Labor Relations Board, which found that Amazon engaged in illegal union-busting leading up to the unsuccessful April 2021 Bessemer vote, ordered a second election that took place last year and is still being contested due to what RWDSU alleges is interference "with the employees' exercise of a free and reasoned choice."
- Jennifer Bates News and Opinion | Common Dreams ›
- Amazon Fires Alabama Union Leader Who 'Lit the Spark of the Current Rise of Labor Activism' ›