February, 23 2022, 11:10am EDT
New Survey Shows Nearly Two-Thirds of Jefferson County, Alabama Residents Support a Union at Amazon
A new survey commissioned by the Institute for Policy Studies and conducted by New South Research shows the extent of local support for unionization efforts at Amazon’s Bessemer warehouse.
WASHINGTON
During the first two weeks of February, the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) commissioned New South Research to survey 1000 Jefferson County, AL residents on a range of local economic justice and policy issues, including questions on the unionization effort at Amazon.
Both the Amazon facilities in Birmingham and Bessemer are located in Jefferson County.
Today, February 23, the Institute for Policy Studies released the results of that survey, which found that:
- 62 percent of those surveyed support a union at Amazon.
- 78 percent of African Americans surveyed support a union at Amazon.
- 49 percent of white people surveyed support a union at Amazon.
- 79 percent of African American women surveyed support a union at Amazon.
Overall, nearly two-thirds of Jefferson County residents support Amazon workers forming a union.
There is a current organizing drive at the Bessemer facility, where Amazon warehouse workers are getting a second chance to vote on unionization, after the National Labor Relations Board ruled that the company had interfered with the election process at that site last year. The voting process will continue through March 25.
Read more about the survey released by IPS.
"These survey results speak to the extent of local support for the Amazon unionization effort in Jefferson County," said Marc Bayard, Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and director of the Black Worker Initiative at IPS. "Nearly two-thirds of Jefferson County residents surveyed support Amazon workers forming a union. Even in the heart of the right-to-work U.S. South, there is amazing potential for an energized and revitalized labor movement to score major victories and improve the lives of Alabama workers. This survey shows that local community members stand with unionization efforts at Amazon facilities in Jefferson County, despite misinformation campaigns. 85 percent of Amazon's workforce at Bessemer are Black, with Black workers leading the union campaign. It is deeply encouraging to see so many local community members supporting one of the most momentous labor organizing campaigns in recent decades."
"The excitement and energy this time is very different inside the facility and out," said Jennifer Bates, BAmazon Union Worker Committee Member, and Amazon BHM1 Associate. "Workers are throwing down like never before and we're seeing it in our neighborhoods too. This time we are armed with the knowledge and power not to fall for Amazon's tricks. We know they lied last time and violated the law, and together we are standing strong. When we have good jobs, our families and our communities thrive. And it's fantastic to know people on every corner have our backs."
Marc Bayard is available for further comment and interviews. Contact Olivia Alperstein at olivia@ips-dc.org or (202) 704-9011.
Institute for Policy Studies turns Ideas into Action for Peace, Justice and the Environment. We strengthen social movements with independent research, visionary thinking, and links to the grassroots, scholars and elected officials. I.F. Stone once called IPS "the think tank for the rest of us." Since 1963, we have empowered people to build healthy and democratic societies in communities, the US, and the world. Click here to learn more, or read the latest below.
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