Amazon has scored a brief legal victory, with a U.S. appeals court pausing the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) case concerning the e-commerce giant’s historic Staten Island union vote. The court’s decision grants Amazon more time to challenge whether it must negotiate with the newly formed union at its New York City warehouse, JFK8—the first successful union effort in the company’s history.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel halted the NLRB’s ongoing proceedings as part of Amazon’s appeal against what it sees as an unjust handling of the case by a Texas federal judge. The company is one of many across the country that have filed lawsuits against the NLRB, arguing that the agency’s internal processes violate constitutional rights.
This legal sparring follows Amazon’s ongoing refusal to bargain with the JFK8 union, claiming the NLRB mishandled the election, while the labor board counters by accusing Amazon of illegal union-busting tactics, such as firing union supporters and coercing workers through mandatory anti-union meetings. Though Amazon denies any wrongdoing, the NLRB continues to uphold the results of the union vote.
Amazon’s latest appeal to the 5th Circuit comes after U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio delayed ruling on the company’s request to block the NLRB case, prompting Amazon to claim that the judge’s delay essentially amounted to a denial. Rodriguez later denied Amazon’s motion and transferred the case to Washington, D.C., where the NLRB is headquartered.
While two of the three judges on the appeals panel supported the stay, one judge dissented, arguing that the court should wait until Amazon’s full appeal unfolds.
The case now awaits further developments, as Amazon continues to navigate the legal labyrinth surrounding its first-ever unionization.
