Apr 6, 2022 - Politics & Policy

"Amazon here we come": Biden touts warehouse unionization efforts

Noah Garfinkel

Biden at the NABTU conference on Wednesday. — President Biden speaks during the annual North America's Building Trades Unions Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton Hotel on April 6. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

President Biden supported Amazon unionization efforts at the North America's Building Trades Union Legislative Conference on Wednesday, calling out the company by name.

Driving the news: Last week, workers at a Staten Island warehouse voted in favor of unionization, marking the first time a union had been formed by Amazon workers.

After the vote, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden "was glad to see workers ensure their voices are heard with respect to important workplace decisions."
Psaki said Wednesday Biden was not saying the government would take direct action in the effort.
"What he was conveying is his longtime support for collective bargaining, for the rights of workers to organize, and their decision to do exactly that in this case,” she said.

What he's saying: "I created the White House Task Force on worker organization empowerment to make sure that choice to join a union belongs to workers alone."

"By the way, Amazon here we come. Watch."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with remarks by Jen Psaki.

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"Amazon here we come": Biden touts warehouse unionization efforts

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