Amazon workers in Garner won't be joining union after majority vote no

GARNER, N.C. (WTVD) -- A union vote at the Amazon facility in Garner on Saturday failed to pass.

The voting, which was over six days, began on Monday, Feb. 10. Saturday's vote totaled 829 workers voting yes to unionize and 2,447 workers voting no.

Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards released a statement following the vote saying:

"We're glad that our team in Garner was able to have their voices heard, and that they chose to keep a direct relationship with Amazon. We look forward to continuing to make this a great place to work together, and to supporting our teammates as they build their futures with us."

Organizers from Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, or CAUSE said while they're disappointed in the result, they're not defeated.

"We're not going to stop organizing, this was just the first step," said Amazon worker and CAUSE member Italo Medelius. "We at least now know that we have around 1,000 people that support us inside that building that's a lot of people so we're going to go back we're going to regroup and we're going to make sure that RDU1 knows that our presence hasn't been defeated."

Medelius said it was always an uphill battle, first getting enough signatures to force a vote, and then facing opposition from Amazon.

"They were denigrating our name saying we were some outside group, not the people inside that we were trying to take your dues even though we're a right-to-work state," he said.

The union had been pushing for more benefits along with a $30-an-hour wage. But despite the vote, they said as the cost of living continues to rapidly increase in the Triangle, their fight for better conditions and wages is even more important.

"Yes, we deserve more money because Amazon is a corporate empire, the fourth richest company in the world. But we really deserve respect and we deserve a safe workplace," said Amazon employee Benny Koval.