John,
Black Lives Matter recognizes that unions helped establish the Black Middle Class, and we're proudly in solidarity with Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama in their efforts to unionize --
potentially forming the first ever Amazon union in the entire country.
It's no surprise that Black women are leading this historic fight towards unionizing at Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama. In Bessemer, the majority of the population is Black, and it's also one of the poorest towns in the state. Over 80% of the workers at the Bessemer Amazon are Black. While many Amazon workers are forced to live in poverty, Jeff Bezos became $72 billion richer in 2020.
Mail-in voting for the union started last week -- and the clock is ticking to ensure workers hear the truth about joining a union (not Amazon's lies) before the vote closes.
That's why we're preparing to launch an advocacy campaign to help counter Amazon's massive propaganda efforts, which organizers tell us is particularly intimidating young workers. Every cent we raise will go towards our Amazon union campaign.
John, workers' rights are human rights, and it’s on us to call out disparities in the workplace when we see it. Workers in Alabama report actions such as cutting hazard pay while the pandemic rages on, unsafe conditions, and extreme hours -- but face termination if they raise their concerns to management. Meanwhile, Amazon had its largest revenue quarter ever, crossing the $100 billion mark in Q4 of 2020.
If you're with Amazon workers in Bessemer, please make a donation of $5 or whatever you can so we can let folks know about this critical union vote >>
If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:
Amazon can put a Black Lives Matter banner across the top of their homepage, but accountability begins at home.
- 26% of Amazon workers are Black. But only 10% of managers are Black.
- It took George Floyd to be murdered by police for Amazon to decide to stop selling its facial recognition software to police.
- Amazon fired Chris Smalls, a Black management associate at one of their New York facilities, after he began actively organizing and speaking out for worker safety. Smalls is now leading a class action lawsuit for Black and Latino workers at his former facility.
Amazon has long held onto a culture of inhumane working conditions. We refuse to watch Amazon treat its employees with disrespect -- especially while its CEO is getting richer by the second.
John, we have to band together against Amazon's mistreatment of their workers. Chip in to power efforts to support unionization at Amazon NOW >>
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
