In a lopsided loss, Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE) failed to secure a majority in a union vote held February 10-15 in Garner, North Carolina. The vote was 2,447 against to 829 for joining the union. About 76% of the approximately 4,300 workers eligible to vote cast ballots. Based on an interview with CAUSE co-founder and vice president Mary Hill, this article explores the reasons for this setback and what comes next.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/27288470

By Mark Satinoff
March 6, 2025

“The election results today are a result of Amazon’s willingness to break the law and use its enormous wealth to try and break our movement,” said a statement by the #CAUSE leadership following the vote. “We will continue organizing. This is only the beginning.”

“In the weeks leading up to the vote #Amazon threw its full weight and power into its union-busting arsenal of intimidation and lies,” Mary Hill, known affectionately by many workers as Ma Mary, told World-Outlook in a phone interview. Hill is a co-founder and vice president of CAUSE. “Amazon flew in union busters from all over the country, at least 30 of them. They were all over the place, like roaches. They get paid $3,000/day plus expenses.”