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From the Frontlines: Organizing Against Amazon w/ Chris Smalls and Mars Verrone

15 snips
May 6, 2025
Chris Smalls, founder of the Amazon Labor Union, shares his journey from being fired for advocating COVID-19 safety to leading a historic unionization effort. Mars Verrone, a filmmaker and musician, discusses his documentary that chronicles these struggles. Together, they highlight the immense challenges of organizing against Amazon's corporate power and emphasize the significance of collective action and worker solidarity. The conversation reflects on the emotional victories at JFK8 and the importance of May Day in the ongoing fight for labor rights.
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ANECDOTE

Firing Sparked Union Effort

  • Chris Smalls was fired by phone call after organizing a COVID-19 protest at Amazon in 2020.
  • His firing catalyzed the creation of the Amazon Labor Union and his unionization efforts.
ANECDOTE

Relentless Union Busting Tactics

  • Amazon spent tens of millions on union-busting and used police, fire departments, and surveillance against union organizers.
  • Organizers faced racial division tactics, arrests, and daily opposition from multiple power centers.
INSIGHT

Overcoming Organizers' Burnout

  • Union organizing involves extreme exhaustion and burnout due to high turnover and dual job demands.
  • Maintaining focus on the true enemy—the company—helps overcome internal conflicts among organizers.
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