Text and audio production by Soo Min Kim and Chantal Vaca
Chris Smalls formed an independent Amazon Labor Union(ALU) after being fired from the company in early 2020. March 25th, 2022. (Photo by Soo Min Kim for NY City Lens)
Thousands of Amazon employees on Staten Island lined up to vote on whether to join an independent union on Friday, March 25th, at the JFK8 warehouse parking lot. According to the released election result on April 1st, the majority of employees have voted to join a worker-led Amazon Labor Union. The union collected 2,654 votes and 2,131 voted against. The JFK warehouse is the first Amazon facility to unionize in the U.S.

Amazon Labor Union vote kicks off on Staten Island on March 25th, 2022. (Photo by Soo Min Kim for NY City Lens)

Posters made by the Amazon Labor Union members. March 25th, 2022. (Photo by Soo Min Kim for NY City Lens)

Amazon Warehouse employees are lining up at the bus stop to get back home after the vote. March 25th, 2022. (Photo by Soo Min Kim for NY City Lens)

Tristian Martinez is an organizer of the Amazon Labor Union. March 25th, 2022. (Photo by Soo Min Kim for NY City Lens)