This isn't strong union country. It opened in April 1999. National union organizers say their efforts are going more slowly than expected, which they largely attribute to intense anti-union activity by Amazon managers. But regional differences might also play a role in the lack of interest. A low wage in Seattle can look desirable in southeast Kansas, said Daniel Ries, a dot-com analyst with C.E. Unterberg, Towbin in New York City.
Labor costs are a factor in deciding where to put jobs.
Organizing efforts at all Amazon distribution centers are just getting underway, and at this point it's not in the interests of local organizers to comment, said Jill Cashen, national spokeswoman for the United Food and Commercial Workers, one of the two organizing groups. The Prewitt Organizing Fund, a small nonprofit, is the other. Worker complaints include mandatory overtime, no time off during the holidays, low job security and shift changes without notice. Alsup isn't taking sides in the union debate. The union gives workers better bargaining power, he said.