09 / 15 — Amazon Staten Island organizing campaign — 2022

Event and result

On April 1, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced the ballot count for Amazon’s JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island. Workers voted 2,654 to 2,131 for the Amazon Labor Union (ALU). JFK8 is the facility’s identifying code, not a separate organization. The announcement distinguished the initial count from certification after any election objections were processed. [1]

Cause and organizers

The campaign sought worker representation and improvements in pay, benefits and conditions. Contemporary Reuters reporting identified former worker Christian Smalls as a central organizer and described sharing food and campaign literature. The Northwest Labor Press also identified cofounder Derrick Palmer and lawyer Seth Goldstein’s voluntary legal help. These roles differ: organizing workers, making the campaign visible and providing legal services are not interchangeable. [2] [4]

Constituency and audiences

The election concerned a specified warehouse workforce, not every Amazon employee. The labor board’s case record defines the represented voting unit. Workers were the immediate audience for the organizing campaign; Amazon was the employer counterpart. A representation election is a legal workplace process, although associated public actions can also seek wider solidarity. These sources do not establish that a political party directed the campaign. [5]

What funding evidence shows

Reuters documented crowdfunding through GoFundMe during the 2022 campaign. The union’s public solidarity fundraiser describes purposes including materials, travel, meeting space, worker food and organizer stipends. Its displayed cumulative total is not a verified 2022 election budget. The page also evolved after the victory, so later statements should not be silently projected backward. Voluntary legal assistance is in-kind support rather than a cash payment. [2] [3] [4]

Terms and limits

Certification recognizes an election result; obtaining a first contract is a separate step. Crowdfunding means pooling contributions through a public fundraising channel. Neither donations nor food for meetings establish paid attendance or control by an outside donor. A careful account identifies the recipient, purpose and date before assigning a payment to the election campaign.

Funding and support: what the evidence shows

Related learning

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May Day worker and immigrant-rights actions — May 1, 2025

The related cases offer comparisons of causes, organisation or funding methods. Linking them does not establish shared organisers, donors or control.

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External Resources