Challenged ballots leave outcome in doubt of Amazon union vote in Alabama

The final results of the highly-contested union election at Amazon's Bessemer, Alabama, facility remain unclear as hundreds of challenged ballots head to the national labor board for investigation. 

The initial count showed a majority voted against unionization, with about 52% of returned ballots coming in favor of joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union and 48% voting against. Just 39% of the 6,000 worker facility returned ballots. 

But the number of challenged ballots, 416, is enough to change the outcome and will need to be investigated by the NLRB before a final tally is reached. RWDSU president Stuart Applebaum said that both the union and Amazon had challenged ballots.