Amazon Labor Union President Chris Smalls
FARGO (KFGO) – Area workers organizing unions in coffee shops, bookstores, and breweries will hear from one of the country’s most famous organizers during a roundtable discussion hosted by the North Dakota AFL-CIO Thursday night (June 2).
Chris Smalls, the president of the Amazon Labor Union, has a David and Goliath story to tell about his improbable victory over one of the world’s biggest companies.
“It’s the power of the people. Amount of money doesn’t matter when you’re bringing people together. We proved that. Amazon, a trillion dollar company, can spend millions of dollars on union busting, and lawyers and firms, and using the police to intimidate workers, and none of that mattered when the people came to the voting booth,” he says. “When you bring people together, when you care about one another, when you take care of your co-workers, we can overcome anything”
Smalls says lessons from the past helped him keep the right mindset during the tumultuous battle. Even though his union is in its infancy, a spark has been lit in the labor movement.
“What you’re seeing is that history repeats itself. This could be the resurgence of the labor movement. We’re starting with Amazon in New York, but we’re hoping to branch out nationwide,” he says. “I have to remind our organizers: this is bigger than us. I always said from the beginning – this is going to be Amazon versus the people. If we keep that mindset, people will want to make the right decision when it comes to voting for a union, and they will want to be a part of that.”
Smalls and Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham will lead the discussion at the Fargo Theater Thursday. It is free and open to the public.
Bernie Burnham and Chris Smalls
Comments