NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Amazon workers started voting in the election to unionize the JFK 8 Amazon warehouse on Staten Island Friday.
If more than 50% of the workers at the facility vote in favor of unionizing, they would make up the first Amazon union ever.
Chris Smalls, the president of the fledgling Amazon Labor Union, told 1010 WINS the organizers are looking to secure more pay and benefits for workers.
“UPS drivers, MTA drivers make $39 to $40 an hour. Amazon warehouses make $15 to $20 an hour,” said Smalls. “That’s not enough. Especially when you’ve got the richest man in the world that can afford to pay his workers better going to space.”
The median household income for Staten Island is roughly $41 per hour according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“We look forward to having our employees’ voices heard,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. “Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work.”
There is also currently a push to unionize in Bessemer, Alabama. The same warehouse failed to unionize last year, but the National Labor Relations Board ordered a re-do after the agency determined the vote was tainted by Amazon’s anti-union campaign, according to NPR.
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