Amazon’s ongoing efforts to thwart organized labor in its delivery network were highlighted in disclosures filed with the Labor Department, revealing that the retail giant spent over $3 million on anti-union consultants last year. This expenditure is part of Amazon’s broader strategy to dissuade workers from forming unions, with the company allocating more than $14 million toward such consultants in 2023.
The consultants, known as “persuaders,” are engaged to dissuade workers from unionizing through various tactics, including group and one-on-one meetings where unions are depicted negatively. While the disclosed spending pertains to consultants directly engaged in influencing workers, it does not encompass funds expended on internal anti-union efforts or legal counsel aimed at undermining organizing endeavors.
Amazon’s significant investment in anti-union consultants stands out, particularly given its status as the largest warehouse employer in the United States. The company has attributed the hiring of such consultants to ensuring that its employees are well-informed about their rights. Notably, the disclosed spending for 2023 includes $1.3 million directed to Michigan-based consultant Penne Familusi, whose firm, the Rayla Group, received $7.6 million from Amazon the previous year.
Another prominent consultant, labor lawyer Katie Lev, received $1.1 million from Amazon last year. Lev was previously implicated in an illegal threat against Amazon workers, according to a ruling by an administrative law judge at the National Labor Relations Board in January 2023.
Amazon’s filings indicate that these consultants were hired in response to extensive union organizing efforts, with their roles focused on educating employees and conveying the company’s stance on union representation.
Despite Amazon’s vigorous anti-union efforts, labor groups have persisted in their organizing endeavors. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has sought to organize subcontracted delivery drivers, while groups like the Amazon Labor Union and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union have conducted campaigns within Amazon’s warehouses. The ALU achieved a notable victory by forming a union at the JFK8 warehouse in New York City, but negotiations for a first contract remain ongoing.
Additionally, a group of subcontracted delivery drivers in California successfully unionized last year with the Teamsters, prompting debates over Amazon’s role in dictating working conditions for subcontracted workers.