Union organizers Syrena and Steve wave to cars exiting an Amazon fulfillment center on March 27, 2021 in Bessemer, Alabama.The NLRB denied a request from Amazon to set up cameras watching the ballots for a historic union election. See more stories on Insider's business pageThe National Labor Review Board denied a request by Amazon to set up cameras watching the ballot boxes as votes began to be counted in the company's Bessemer, AL union vote.
In documents obtained by Insider, the NLRB denied Amazon's request for"enhanced mail ballot storage security protocols," which included the video camera that would run when ballots were not actively being counted. Alternatives proposed also included either a new lock system on the rooms where ballots were held, a physical log tracking anyone who enters the room, or,"tamper-proof tape or labels." The documents were dated March 29.
The NLRB cited the fact that the count will take place"within view of observers participating via virtual platform as well as an in-person observers" as the reason for its denial. Spokespeople for the NLRB and RWDSU declined to comment. A spokesperson for Amazon was not immediately available for comment.
Amazon has petitioned the NLRB unsuccessfully before over the course of the union battle in Alabama. The NLRB denied the company's request to have an in-person vote, instead requiring that the company comply with mail-in voting,that it hopes to have a result by Sunday, April 4. Your morning cheat sheet to get you caught up on what you need to know in tech. Sign up to 10 Things in Tech You Need to Know Today.