Question

What anti-union practices do you think Amazon engaged in? Do you think that they violated the NLRA? Obviously, Amazon did not want this video to go out. Why? What would you have done differently?

Amazon’s Disgusting Anti-Union Video For Company Managers LEAKED

Answer 1

The leaked video explains about  Company A's top management taking the initiative of building an awareness to its Warehousing Managers with regards to union formation in the organisation. This Organisation strictly wants its Managers to monitor the anti-union practices followed by its employees working at the ground level and take stringent action against them. Yes, it is hard to believe that this is happening in a cash rich company and its CEO being one of the richest in the world. Company A is being engaged in following anti-union methods- Taking severe actions against the employees forming groups, monitor the employees making any provocative kind of behavior, keeping tab on employees daily work efficiency, workers involved in circulating petitions, workers engaged in wearing clothes of union, workers making sudden disconnect in communication with their Managers and workers showing pessimistic approach. Other than the above Managers were also asked to issue notice to workers who are long absent to work. Also Managers were informed to discriminate workers by making a list of warned badge and innocent badge.

These practices are against the NLRA and it shows the company has not respected the regulation imposed by NLRA. NLRA assures employees to form unions. This rule allows employee to take collective decisions and address all the concerns that they face with the employer.The motive of this law is to provide better working condition to the labors, assure right pay for the work that they perform, provide job security and offer better working conditions by forming associations.

Company A did not want this video to be leaked, the major reason being this could damage its brand image and lose trust among prospective employees. Instead of making a presentation to its Manager i could have taken different steps in preventing the formation of unions and it is discussed as below:

- Communicate personally to all employees about the unwillingness of Management to bring in Union into the organisation. Though there will be resistance with the old or long term employees, but new employees can made easily understand about this organisation policy.

- Create a system for understanding the grievances of  employees. If the employees feel that the organisation is listening to their problems then would never depend in formation of unions.

- Setting up a open communication system with Manager and it employees. The employees should not have panic in expressing their thoughts and should feel free to approach their Managers at any time.

- Being transparent in decision making. Before implementing a unique policy the Management consults its employees.

- Employer should be more responsible for the success of any policy and failure in deploying a challenging decision

- Employer must offer its employees right pay as per industry standards, safe working environment and adequate time for rest.

Above initiatives can result in self satisfaction among employees without forming unions and thereby enabling company to think of innovations rather than concentrating on solving employee related problems.

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