Conservative Alabama could be home to Amazon’s first union in the U.S.
The Hindu
If successful, it would be a major coup for a union movement in historic decline — now representing only 11% of nonfarm American workers, down from 30% in 1964.
“Make sure you take care of us!” a worker shouts to two union organisers in orange vests standing at the entrance of Amazon's warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama — ground zero of a battle over . The sun is not yet up, but the two organisers Steve and Syrena gamely wave their posters to catch the attention of night-shift workers pouring out of the huge facility and of day-side employees taking over on a foggy Saturday morning. In the glare of car headlights, one can read the words on their posters — “Thanks for your courage!” — along with the initials RWDSU, for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which will represent the warehouse’s 5,800 employees if they support it in a vote ending on Monday.
The Union and State governments provided support in several ways to the needy people, but private institutions should also extend help, especially to those requiring medical assistance, said C.P. Rajkumar, Managing Director, Nalam Multispeciality Hospital, here on Saturday. Speaking at a function to honour Inspector General of Police V. Balakrishnan and neurologist S. Meenakshisundaram with C. Palaniappan Memorial Award for their contribution to society and Nalam Kappom medical adoption of Type-1 diabetic children, he said the governments implemented numerous welfare programmes, but the timely help by a private hospital or a doctor in the neighbourhood to the people in need would go a long way in safeguarding their lives.












