Workers at an Amazon warehouse in New York have voted to form the first U.S. union in the tech giant’s history, marking a landslide victory for an initiative led by a fired employee.
In a closely watched election, workers at a Staten Island facility known as JFK8 voted to form a union with a newly created organization called the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), which was started by current and former warehouse employees.
The result was hailed by major unions and the White House, with spokeswoman Jen Psaki telling reporters on Friday that President Joe Biden was “pleased to see workers making sure their voices were heard.”
In a statement after the vote, Amazon said it was exploring various legal avenues to challenge the results.
“We are disappointed with the outcome of the Staten Island election, as we believe having a direct relationship with the company is best for our employees,” Amazon said in a statement. “We are evaluating our options.”
The ALU asked Amazon to implement “more reasonable” productivity rates in the warehouse. The new union is also asking the company to raise wages and give workers more breaks and paid time off, among other demands.
The union’s election was held the same day the company unveiled the salary of its new CEO Andy Jassy, who will take home a valued $212.7 million in 2021.