“We Just Unionized Amazon”: How Two Best Friends Beat the Retail Giant’s Union-Busting Campaign
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- Опубликовано: 29 авг 2024
- We speak with the two best friends who led a drive to organize workers at Amazon's warehouse in Staten Island, New York, and made history Friday after a majority voted to form the first Amazon union in the U.S. We speak with Christian Smalls, interim president of the new union and former Amazon supervisor, about how he led the effort after Amazon fired him at the height of the pandemic for demanding better worker protections. "I think we proved that it's possible, no matter what industry you work in, what corporation you work for," says Smalls. "We just unionized Amazon. If we can do that, we can unionize anywhere." We also speak with Derrick Palmer, who works at the Amazon JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island and is the vice president of the Amazon Labor Union, about intimidation tactics the company used. Reporter Josefa Velásquez covered the union drive for The City and discusses what the victory means for the broader labor movement.
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Christian Smalls should be Time Person of the Year. Organizing is hard. Organizing against a multi-billion dollar behemoth is amazing
And it’s going to have ripple affects.
Hopefully this is just the beginning.
@@user-qm1wc7dc8t Let’s just hope the tide is turning because I for one am a bit tired of the injustices in this world.
Sounds good.
I second that 👆
This sentiment about this successful, monumental really, union drive having ripple effects is the sort of thing that many would call for and hope for. It should be understood that plenty of businesses and business interests will observe the union victory at Amazon and be preparing to forcefully counter (via multiple means) any effort for it to spread.
Mr. Smalls is now a historical figure. Good for him!
What the hell that mean good for him
Clearly a smart and articulate guy. He explained really well why they didn't choose to go with an outside union. I'm guessing there's pros and cons to both, but self management was probably the best option in this case.
Historic not historical
He's a hero to workers everywhere!
The glaring discrepancy between Bezos outfitting his mansion with 25 bathrooms while his employees can’t make it across the warehouse to one of the few bathrooms provided before their break is over is complete insanity. I get tears of huge admiration for Smalls vs. Goliath. Victory to the workers!
You are Absolutely right, Imagine being pregnant I have to walk to the bathroom that is far far away
@@taqauaiagarner613 May humane conditions, dignity and living wages prevail in the workplace.
They are ridiculous twentyfive bathrooms in one mansion . Really environmental for every one .They are all oligarchs.the haves and have nots .
Congratulations you young men .start learning the law .
That's capitalism unfortunately
@@originaleverythingelseisca5977 It's greed for sure. I mean, Ben & Jerry's source from local farmers and give their workers a percentage of the profits. Everyone does well. The employees are happy, benefits are good, they are well-paid, and Ben & Jerry are active in the progressive movement, working for social change, for the good of the whole, for the next generations. This is a long-standing model of a corporation with a conscience. It can work.
if your company is spending so much money to STOP YOU FROM DOING SOMETHING in America, it must be in your best interest
So using fossil fuels is in our best interest because of all the money spent to keep us from doing so. Got it.
Absolutely 👍
Clarify, please.
Say again
@@martaholmes4287 Amazon spent millions on anti-union efforts and a smear campaign against Chris Smalls
“don’t quit your job, organize it” love it ✊🏼🔥
This is proof that if people unite and stay solid, anything can be accomplished. Power to the people!
So agree!!
This makes me happy POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Just legalized Mafia. Union Dues Legalized shakedown money.
Enjoy that
THANK YOU CHRIS AND DERRICK! You are heroes for labor. You’re at the heart of a movement that will shake this country forever. Thank you.
So happy for them
Agreed! So, so, so happy that they kept at the fight and won! The little guy wins sometimes, but only if he doesn't give up. These are two of the most tenacious, dedicated, committed, and caring men I've heard about in a very long time. Well done, Sirs!
The human element, the workers, are the blood of business. Power to be treated fairly is a right of their employment. Their hard work is what drives profits. Drives the future of the business for which they give their lives. Give their future. Congrats. A fight well fought.
I hope it is just a start.
Dumb
“ thanks Jeff bezos for going into space… while he was in space, we were signing people up!” ✊✊✊✊
Chris Smalls made out like a Labor Jedi Knight...he and his fellow employees collectively used the "Union Force" to stop Darth Bezos from busting his unionization of his Amazon Death Star while Darth Bezos was cruising around in his Amazon TIE Fighter in space...
Amazon chose the wrong comrade to elevate as the figure head of the labor union drive. A strong and dedicated voice with a well know and legitimate grievance goes a long way. Strength can bring out strength.
Congratulations to all the workers who fought to unionize Amazon's warehouse in Staten Island, You guys RULE!
What about unionizing all the other workers in all 52 states, it's a disgrace when you hear an employee talks about the way they are exploited,very inhumane,I wonder how these business owners sleep in their beds at nights when their employees have to work under so much stress it's just another way of slavery. United you stand divided you fall,all the no no voters are cowards, I wish they won't enjoy the benefits of those who stood up for their rights.If the abolitionist we're cowards we would all still be slaves.These people have no conscience .stay strong continue to do the right thing.
@@magdelenemcfadden1493 There's only 50 states, 48 on the mainland, plus Alaska and Hawaii...
I was fired from a restaurant for asking someone to put a mask on. Love this guy for staying strong and winning.
🔥🔥
WOW. That's gross.
@I doubt you would understand
🤣🤣
y u *bitter* bro?
@I doubt you would understand -- YOU are the one who doesn't understand. Your mean-spirited reply makes that glaringly obvious.
@@HughJass-jv2lt maybe because he's sick and tired of the tyranny in the land of the free.
I'm so proud of these guys. Like Christian, I too quit my exploitative retail job after failed attempts to negotiate our safety during Covid. This success gives me so much hope that their contagious energy will spread to other workplaces. It's so desperately needed.
Chris was fired not quit but, like you, had failed attempts to negotiate safety at work before leaving
I've been in management for decades, working with both Union and non Union workplaces.
(now retired). Kudos to the Amazon employees for certifying. Long overdue !
I'm just crying with joy 😂, I can't believe how compassionately they cared about each other's lives; no matter how much pressure and scrutiny they experienced. I pray that I can, one day, be as brave as these Amazing People!! 🙏😂😭🙏
That's what is so inspiring about their success. It started from a genuine concern about their fellow workers. They gave amazon the opportunity to improve conditions and instead they tried to muzzle their concerns. It's truly a grassroots movement and I wish them every success for the future. Made my day 😊
Three cheers for Christian Smalls. A genuine working-class hero.
The hard work is only starting now!! This is huge!!! Congrats to everyone!! Hope to see more soon!!!!!
Amazon saying that they are "sad because they like to have a direct relationship with their employees" is a joke. It should be more like "Jeff Bezos is sad because now he can only have a $400M vs $500M yacht."
he can still afford a 500m yacht.
I just love his story, its so unspeakably satisfying. Thumbs way up, Mr. Smalls. I cant even stand it. So soo good. May the dominoes fall everywhere the workers need their own union.
It's about friggin' time they uniionized!! Christian Smalls and Derrick Palmer are labor heroes.
Black men are strong, handsome, powerful, an living for a cause to better conditions! Mr. Smalls you are needed an appreciated! Congrats on your victory!!
Amen sis!
Although I'm not surprised Bezos and his lackey called a blk man 'not smart' - oldest trick in the yt😈 handbook
ps. Chris was a supervisor at Amazon, doesn't speak well for a company if they promoted a 'not smart' person. he showed them.
I was looking for someone to say what I was thinking. 😊
Absolutely love this generation. They are smart and committed and they aren’t going to let these lyin’ billionaires to screw them over. 🥰😎✊🏽
Seriously ? I have doubts about younger generation but this IS a story of STRENGTH. So many times I feel youth are clueless eternal babies !!
@@sueblood7793 People no doubt used to say that about your generation Sue.
@@cryptbeast3222 😆 There is no doubt about that! I know I was so busy pursuing my interests - with little fear - that it is a wonder my parents remained sane. I seem to have gone back to school about every 20 years. 70's, 90's and 2008. Last go around especially I was impressed some "kids" were really smart. Most quiet though. Don't see much of the anti war anti establishment feelings evident in 70s. Maybe 🤔 it is a return to practical sense? As usual media focus is on malcontents and violence seems to be not only more accepted but endorsed. I don't think this is good 😭 . I also don't think it represents the majority of young who are milquetoast beyond belief in University setting. I have not heard of ONE University student yet questioning forced Covid vaccines. Not one. Surely some are studying science ? They ARE, after all the generation which is supposed to design and regulate drug trials and ALL SORTS of scientific studies in the future !! Shouldn't they KNOW what a Placebo is ? Shouldn't they value "anecdotal evidence" - like thousands of years of natural immunity to things like the Black Plague even??? But no. They are lining up like lambs to the slaughter to get their shot 💉 cause they think this is "science". Which it is but so were frontal lobotomies. And their reaction? Displaced 🤬. They want to go to war (do they?) And kill any enemy which can be named because the real ones either cannot be found, or if found cannot be attacked without attacking a system of belief they have relief upon many years. They would have to attack their PARENTS and recognize that each generations mistakes are compounded unless they are STOPPED.
Is accepting the social isolation of grandma and grandpa the answer? Certainly it is the easy route 😌 for many - not just the young. Much is made of eastern civilization valuing their elders. Yet in matter of fact many times it was culturally accepted to drag older (useless) folk to mountains to leave them to die. What US lockdowns have done (if implemented as leftists command ) is just put a pretty face on this.
I did not have children and have only one friend with GRANDCHILD in a University. Even though grandma is STILL a high energy business woman who claims to 'not believe in vaccines' it was more important to her that her progeny enter a premier school than even whisper an objection to mandates. She told me soon after that this smart 🤓 gal had tendonitis. At least I thought that was what she said. Took me months to realize she had said "tinnitus". She is doing well I hear at University and even being promoted to assist with some of their " non covid" propoganda. As we all KNOW tinnitus is not a problem with vaccines and neither are menstrual irregularities. ( As for hundreds of years just female hysteria)
THIS generation has BIG problems to solve. And their problems are bigger precisely because MY GENERATION did not address them and my folks didn't even imagine them
The WORST thing about MY GENERATION is that they relegated their ideals and their brains to the dust bin. They are traitors who went from objecting to Vietnam War to becoming silicon valley censors. The generation 'in the middle' is the most disgusting of all. They sacrifice BOTH the young and the old .
Perhaps my BEST contribution to society ( and the saddest personally) is that I did not have children . By choice. And that does not mean by choice to have an abortion ( which choice will sooner or later haunt MOST women)
Not so many years ago they used to say if a woman put an aspirin between her legs they would not have to make a more difficult choice.
Pharma solves all problems and Putin is the cause of all evil
Young people are smarter than that ( at least some are) and their lives depend on their THINKING and speaking up. They will not make much of an army when so many suffer PERMANENT heart 💜 injury from vaccines. Most recognizable "myocarditis" linked to vaccines have TROPONIN levels through the roof - as high or higher than any I have seen in massive heart attacks in decades of clinical lab work. But this is all or none right? No one having serious heart damage would just stay at home would they ? If grandma, grandpa or even Mom or Dad died of heart attack it would not be questioned would it?
I think 🤔 Amy Goodwin has done a good report here. And know Amazon policies are a mixed bag from a narcissist. Amazon ADVERTISES for those who will help illegal immigrants. And once they get them they abuse them - just like China Owned Smithfield.
Amy sold out years ago I think - but like many didn't even realize it.
Best story for hope I have received in years. I worked at Amazon as a picker until I was living on ibuprofen and aspirin and so sick I couldn’t study for the TMA class I was taking. A nightmare. This is a vivid example of people doing what it takes to come together for themselves and for others
thank you
May you please 🙏 explain your brilliant journey and experience at slaveAZON you said you worked at Amazon & had to take pain medication and court not even take college or trade school test if I'm Correct? From work bad slave driving bo$$ treatment @T SLAVERYAZON OPPS I MEANT AMAZON
Norm chumsky talks about average human being over worked in USA and high prices for rent and high prices for food and cars and high EXTRA ORDINARY prices for ga$ but LOW EXTREMELY SMALL PAY TO MAJORITY OF USA BODY BEAUTIFUL GREAT WORKING MAN AND WOMBMAN AND EVEN EUROPEAN DESCENT BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!
So proud of Christian Smalls, he has come so far in this fight. I first saw him on the Jimmy Dore Show soon after he was fired. Thank you Christian you may have started the fight that saves our Nation from the oligarchs!
Congratulations brother Smalls for your important efforts in your labour struggle against Amazon.
I so PROUD of these youngmen for standing up!!! Having a UNION is a HUGE PLUS. The person that was speaking was lying big time. As for the the weekly dues you pay they can be reported on your yearly income taxes.
CONGRATS! These guys rock… brave, persistent, voices for the workers….
Agree!!!!
Mr. Small should sue the hell out of amazon For legally terminating his job. That was such a great accomplishment Victor, thank you❤
Sarcasm or did you mean illegally terminated?
As a retired union person AFGE . Choosing strong honest Stewarts and leadership and getting them educated is so important. Would recommend the union president position become a salary position.
Congratulations Amazon workers...Hopefully more companies will follow this example & show these Greedy corporations they need you more than you need them.
Derrick Palmer, you showed real strength, solidarity and leadership to people across the country. You did not buckle to the intimidation, threats and devious multimillion dollar propaganda campaign. Speaking up and organizing for decent working conditions and compensation is an essential human right. Corporations have gotten away with treating their workers as disposable, without respect or dignity. Workers can organize everywhere, once they decide they've had enough. ¡Ya Basta!
All they got was a seat at the table. Now they have to negotiate for better pay and working conditions with the same devil that tried to keep them from the table. They need to bring in steel backboned negotiators now.
Eleanor Aquitaine, this rue. No.more symbolism. They need tangibles
Chuck Rocca
Congrats! Christian Smalls - You can keep calling people stupid, and they'll prove you wrong. Good on you getting sh*t done! Full support.
Christian certainly should be TIME person of the year, and also win the Pulitzer Peace Prize. He's bringing a lot of peace to hard working people. Thank you for all you're doing, Christian and the rest of you you.
Loving your statement🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰👍🏾👍🏾
BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL THIS WAS A BIG WIN 🥇 FOR ALL WORKERS TAKE NOTES AMERICA BECAUSE WHAT THESE PEOPLE DID WAS (GREAT) David/Goliath
That's awesome. I hope they can secure better wages and benefits. Also, let's hope this puts upward pressure on wages for other companies.
Even if they get wage increases, the Union dues also increases...and you end up with maybe 0.5%...in your paycheck....it's not in the benefit of the employee.... these guys sound very uneducated and ignorant....they presented themselves as bullies..... sad for the employees....‼‼🇺🇸
@@kaypee4704 Damn, found the person who has no idea what they are talking about.
This is a huge W for the employees. Good on them.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! THIS IS AN HISTORIC EVENT! This is just the beginning, a very BIG BEGINNING!! Best to all! I see a trend forming here that will continue to spread. Cheers! 🍾
Congratulations to Christian Smalls & the unionizing team!! The most important thing he said; "This is what can happen when people come together." Amazons criticism of the win is a joke.
I worked for Emerson daily equipment for two and ahalf years as a field service technician repairing forklifts and aerial equipment for caterpillar.
I asked for raise, and my branch gave me a evaluation.
All categories, he stated, the best, excellent, best customer relations he had seen . He noted I got them new customers and repaired any type of machine or equipment.
They gave me a .40 cent per hour raise , 16 dollars a week, a 500 yearly raise.
I literally wipe my rear with the evaluation as I left his office
The branch manager was a penecostal bootlick to the owner, Emerson daily, married to one of his relatives, he himself couldn't fix a sandwich.
Nothing but white slavers, using someone's else labor as a tool to get to more wealth.
Maniacal evil religious slavers, who inherited money, christians employers, truly and absolutely anti Christ, Christ stood against slavers.
title above, "Why We Need Unions". Maybe we should qualify that as "Good Unions" cuz some are better than others.
The entire point of capitalism is to get rich without doing any of the work. No one on Wall Street ever produced any wealth - all wealth is born into the world drenched in the blood, sweat and tears of the working man and woman.
@@gigiwills7851 Unions are democratic organizations - if you don't like the leadership, vote it out. Hoffa may have been corrupt but the union members recognized that he was getting them good pay and good benefits.
Damn Shame‼️👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾
This "inarticulate and not very bright" worker as Amazon put it became the face of a David versus Goliath battle. And with the help of Mr. Palmer and the courageous Amazon workers they won a victory that will go down in history. It brings tears of joy to anyone who sides with the workers against a union busting behemoth. Great work Chris. Great work Derreck. Great work Amazon workers.
Derek Smalls is a hell of a site more articulate then Jeff meandering Bezos.
So you insult and then compliment? 🤦🤦🤦 Obviously Chris is articulate and smart enough to organize, unite and educate Amazon workers about ALU and win by a landslide after being fired! Don't judge it's not very bright of you!
Inarticulate‼️ STOP ✋🏿 THE FUCKERY‼️BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEMED TO ARTICULATE A FRIGGIN WIN‼️ 🏆 🏆 THEY ARE CHAMPIONS. It is AMAZING what people witness and see and interpret.
There always has to be a Haterade drinking person in the midst with crap to spew. 👎🏾👎🏾
@@lyetaherb4703 ???
Amy is giddy, even a chuckle I heard. Very rare!
This is just the beginning ✊🏾
Guys like this are how we take the power back from the elites.
Christian Smalls and Derrick, We salute you both and those who stood together against EVIL and inhumane treatment!
I’m so happy and proud of these brave men and women. This sets an example for others to follow 🌺
Finally one point for the ordinary people. Congrats to these brave and hardworking people
This is wonderful and will help so many workers even beyond Amazon. Thank you for making a better work world for everyone.
Congratulations to these heroes! May this inspire unionization of all Amazon workers.
Mr. Palmer you are appreciated thanks for being a strong voice for your peers !!
Cheers to Amazon Workers We are Teamster and ACiU Members and we lived through companies destroying workers unionized choices and we are retired! Corporations only think about their bottom line and disregard workers needs!
So nice to have some good news for working folks.
Thank you Chris & Derrick. Heroes making history!
I remember watching Chris during his walkout the first time on Status Coup / Jordan Chariton's show. Grass roots, independents are our leaders!
Congratulations Amazon employees!! That's a blessing! ❤️You all deserve it!
great job Christian! The workers have rights!
Solidarity to all the workers!
Workers of the world unite!
"There wasn't a lot of jobs available so I'm going to make it my business to organize from within"
Sounds about right.
Congratulations Brothers! Solidarity from IBEW 103 !!! 👊
Companies never do what's best for employees
An absolute legend!
such beautiful simple advice at the end: don't quit your job, organize! otherwie you're jumping from fire to fire.
Terrible advice. A union isn't going to magically make the job something you like doing or give you a significant pay raise. If there are other jobs out there you are interested in or offer better pay, then absolutely quit and go work there. You're not a slave that is bound to the company you work for.
@@Paul-ft9dn
But all low wage jobs are the same. None of them are willing to pay more. That’s the problem. You’re still technically a slave. You’re literally jumping from 1 greedy ship to another greedy shop.
They are all the same.
So technically, it doesn’t matter if someone quits, all jobs have the same structure.
You can’t sweep your problems under the rug.
If they won’t pay more, The only solution is to unionize.
@@alohatigers1199 my point is to work on being able to get a better paying job then quit the crappy one. Not hard to get a job that's not bottom of the barrel. Also working conditions are better some places than others. Get a decent job you like doing first then maybe unionize if it's worth fighting for.
Christian Smalls is strong for many reasons, including surviving a low-battery smoke alarm that goes screech every few seconds.
Companies crying about inflation shouldn't increase prices then post record profits. Time to treat workers with respect.
Its a concerted effort. They make inflation so they can get their politicians in. The right wing networks are all in on the scam too.
Don't jump into the next fire. Unionize 💖
CREATOR BLESS THESE PEOPLE WITH PROTECTION AGAINST THESE CORPORATIONS 🙏🏽
Good work, Amazon workers. Keep it up.
This is very good news! I’m so excited. Keep up the righteous fight! Solidarity Forever ✊️
Together workers are millions against few millionaires, billionaires and can put up a fight against low pay and treatment. Stay together.
Way to go, guys!!! Great stuff, christian and derek!!!!!!
This outcome makes me so happy neverr forget the fight isn’t over.
Workers should own and control the means of production.
"we believe having a direct relationship with the company is best for our employees"
If Amazon keeps insulting its workers (and, by extension, its costumers, since they're workers too) with such condescencing/paternalistic garbage, its reign won't last.
Kudos to these workers for refusing to take this crap any longer.
Wish someone could just fuck these assholes shit up.
I mean they signed people up on the bus stops... this is the type of people we need running companies. If you are willing to stand on a bus stop in NYC in the winter you definitely have the people heart in mind.
The Amazon spokesperson lied in the audio clip. Negotiations do NOT require giving something to get something.
What did we give up to get the civil rights act?
He also, insinuates any deductions in wages and benefits is the unions fault without suggesting how the corporation forced those deductions.
Total misrepresentation of the facts with intent to deceive. 😡
How much has Bezos paid you for this post? 30 pieces of silver????
@@pamelajudithrwanyarare8429 you must not have understood what I said... I said the Amazon spokesperson lied... he would be the one paid by Bezos, not me.
My statement actually was not in support of Amazon nor Bezos... but rather unions.
Well, the lives of a lot of predominant leaders and people working closely with them, but yeah. You shouldn't have to give up much more. The labor efficiency gains alone are more than enough.
Great Job, Chris!!!
My dissertation development for my doctoral capstone is on workplace democracy. So, I 👏🏽👏🏽 you all for protecting yourself and others. From a born and raised New Yorker.
God bless them! People power, y'all
They may have won the union, but it's still a long way towards fair contracts and better working conditions. I wish them good luck and all the best!
Congratulations!!!! Much love ad RESPECT.
I worry about union busting now, so much easier w the Internet. Cautious steps y'all! This is one of the reasons why our history book stop at our victory in WW2, nothing else great to report post war unlike the socialization (medical care, labor unions etc) to creat social safety nets like ALL of the other Allied countries.
Congrats to yall!
Good job guys!
WORKING CLASS HEROES!!!
Bless these young people I worked with a union in 1995 we were respected. YEAH for these guys
Great Job Brotha!
From a Union President in Michigan, this was no easy task!
Congratulations to Chris and his Organizing Team! There's strength in numbers and they have the start of a good Membership with 500+ Members!
Solidarity Forever and the Union's make you strong!
Congratulations Mr. Smalls! You had backing of the Most High for your righteous actions. You are strong and courageous, fighting for the downtrodden. Stay the course and don’t let the threats intimidate you, He who stands for you is stronger than anyone against you! Trust in Yah, not chariots or men. Joshua 1:9
This is the FIRST GOOD NEWS and LEGIT REPORT I have ever seen from Democracy Now.
CONGRATS to AMAZON !!
AMAZON is the workforce - not the sociopaths previously in charge.
Congrats Christian ,Derrick and the new ALU!
Will keep Christian and Derick in prayer. God is on your side. Be strong!!!🙏
Bravo to you Mr Christian Smalls
Smalls and Palmer are the real deal, they're a big deal, and very smart! Congrats Amazon workers
Well done!!!
All workers need to come together and unionize, management will always try to keep all the profits and pay workers the least possible. Government wont do anything so workers must come together to gain some power.
The fact that they would even quarantine him to silence him. That's authentic corporate evil. God bless these men.
This took courage
Go Chris go!
Nurses need to unionize everywhere!
Can’t even imagine what the backlash s will be from that sociopath Bezos.
Creating millions of jobs and providing an amazing service to millions of Americans. Soo sociopathic
@@adoe2305 Mannn, take several seats!! He wouldn't even have a successful company if it wasn't for his workers. Why can't a multi-billionaire pay and treat his employees well?? Costco does it and doesn't have to be TOLD to do it either. Bezos is greedy! Simple as that
Thought that was my alarm chirping !
Heroes.
This is absolutely historic and an amazing victory for ALL working class members. As a Walmart worker, this gives me hope!