Amazon Workers Reject Union in North Carolina Warehouse Vote

Amazon Warehouse Workers Reject Unionization Bid

Workers at an Amazon fulfillment center in Garner, North Carolina, have voted overwhelmingly against unionizing in a closely watched election. The National Labor Relations Board tally showed 829 votes in favor and 2,447 votes against joining the grassroots union Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE), with 77 challenged ballots.

Details of the Election

Approximately 4,300 workers at the facility were eligible to vote during the week-long election period that concluded on February 15, 2025. The Garner warehouse, which opened in August 2020, became a battleground for labor organizers seeking better wages, more reliable hours, improved safety measures, and greater job security. This marked the latest attempt to unionize Amazon workers following previous efforts in Staten Island and Bessemer, Alabama.

Company and Union Reactions

Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards stated: "We're glad that our team in Garner was able to have their voices heard, and that they chose to keep a direct relationship with Amazon. We look forward to continuing to make this a great place to work." Meanwhile, CAUSE organizers vowed to continue their campaign, saying: "We will continue organizing: this is only the beginning and we are building momentum in this struggle for worker power."

Broader Unionization Landscape

This vote occurs against the backdrop of ongoing labor organizing at Amazon facilities nationwide. In June 2024, the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) that successfully organized JFK8 in Staten Island affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The Teamsters subsequently organized strikes at multiple Amazon locations in December 2024, though Amazon doesn't recognize these unions. Separately, workers at an Amazon-owned Whole Foods in Philadelphia voted to unionize in January 2025, though that result is being challenged.

Legal Challenges Continue

Amazon continues to legally challenge its first unionized warehouse in Staten Island nearly three years after workers voted to unionize. The company is also appealing a November 2024 federal labor ruling that ordered a third union election at its Bessemer, Alabama facility. Amazon has filed numerous legal challenges questioning the National Labor Relations Board's authority and structure.