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Employees at an Amazon warehouse in Garner, North Carolina, have voted against joining a union, marking another defeat for labor organizers at the retail giant.

According to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), approximately 2,447 workers opposed union representation, while 829 voted in favor.

The election, which ran from Monday to Saturday, included around 4,300 eligible workers at the facility near Raleigh.

This decision is significant because Amazon has been steadfast in its resistance to unionization at its facilities across the United States.

The warehouse in Garner, which processes goods for Amazon's fulfillment network, will not join the Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE), an independent labor group that has been organizing the workers since January 2022.

According to CBS News, Rev. Ryan Brown, one of the co-founders of CAUSE, expressed disappointment but acknowledged the challenges of organizing in the South, saying, "We had already braced ourselves for a loss.

We knew that historically the tide was against us to have a win for several reasons. One, we're in the South. Two, the average worker that's in North Carolina knows nothing about a union and the benefits of a union and what a union could do for them."

Despite this setback, CAUSE workers had hoped to negotiate better wages and working conditions, including a $30 per hour wage and longer breaks.

Workers at the Garner facility are currently paid $18.50 per hour, more than double North Carolina's minimum wage.

However, Amazon officials argue that the company already offers competitive wages and benefits, such as safe working conditions and inclusive workplaces, which many unions seek.

Amazon Celebrates as North Carolina Workers Reject Unionization Bid

Amazon welcomed the outcome, with spokesperson Eileen Hards stating, "We're glad that our team in Garner was able to have their voices heard, and that they chose to keep a direct relationship with Amazon."

The company has long maintained that direct communication between employees and management is the best way to address concerns, rather than union representation.

This vote is part of a larger, ongoing effort by labor groups to unionize Amazon facilities. In 2022, workers at a warehouse in Staten Island, New York, successfully voted to unionize with the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), but Amazon has contested the results and has refused to begin contract negotiations, INC said.

Additionally, workers at a Whole Foods store in Pennsylvania recently voted to unionize, marking the first successful unionization in the grocery chain, which is owned by Amazon.

While Amazon's campaign against unionization has been successful in many locations, including Bessemer, Alabama, and two warehouses in New York, labor experts point out that the odds remain stacked against unions at Amazon.

"The odds are massively against any group of workers trying to form a union at Amazon," said John Logan, a professor at San Francisco State University. "The company's anti-union campaigns are relentless, and they are very effective."

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Amazon, North Carolina