“If the amazon deal falls apart, they will have nobody to blame but themselves. A major problem is the way the deal was put together shrouded in secrecy and ignoring what New Yorkers want and need. They arrogantly continue to refuse to meet with key stakeholders to address their concerns, despite requests from New York’s top elected officials to do so. With their long history of abusing workers, partnering with ICE to aid their persecution of immigrant communities, and contributing to gentrification and a major housing crisis in their hometown of Seattle, New Yorkers are right to raise their concerns and opposition to this plan. New Yorkers wont be bullied by Jeff Bezos, and if Amazon is unwilling to respect workers and communities they will never be welcome in New York City,” Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

Amazon has finally said publicly what we know the record clearly shows: It is a company staunchly hostile to workers forming a union. For the first time in the debate since the so-called second headquarters deal was unveiled, Amazon finally uttered a truth the company and its political supporters have tried to obscure. “Would you agree to neutrality if workers at Amazon wanted to unionize?” asked City Council Speaker Corey Johnson at a hearing. “No, sir” was the reply from Amazon Vice-President Brian Huseman.

RWDSU Local 108 workers the Mushroom Company in Cambridge, Maryland, have won a new three-year contract with their employer which brings wages up 50 cents per hour each year of the agreement. The committee was also successful in upgrading the general labor rate for each job category. This meant that on top of the first increase since employees would receive 10-25 cents more per hour.

On January 9, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union’s (RWDSU) Local 110, announced that the workers at General Mills’ production facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa voted to join the RWDSU in their fight for a voice and fair treatment in the workplace, as well as needed paid time off and fair wages through a collective bargaining agreement. Workers finally have a right to fair representation, a seat at the table and a real chance to stop the bleed out of their long-held benefits.