DANNY GLOVER: Why the fight against AMAZON in Bessemer matters

One of the most historic union votes of our era is underway: 5,800 workers at the Amazon fulfillment center in Bessemer, Alabama, are currently voting on whether or not to unionize with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union. If the union vote is successful, workers at the Bessemer facility will become the first unionized Amazon workforce in the United States.

On Feb. 22, 2021, world-renowned actor, activist, and Real News Network board member Danny Glover came to Bessemer to show support for Amazon workers and their struggle to form a union. TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez drove 14 hours from Baltimore to Bessemer to sit down with Glover and talk about why this vote is so significant and how Amazon workers in Bessemer, the vast majority of whom are Black, are part of a long tradition of labor struggle in the South.

This interview is part of our new TRNN mini-series “Battleground Bessemer,” in which we will be bringing you in-depth coverage of the historic union vote in Bessemer throughout the month of March. Keep checking TRNN for updates and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube and podcast channels for upcoming installments!

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[sonjaleesloth]

Thank you Danny!
I love when famous people use their clout to help others.

[CarolineBearoline]

Woot! Woot!
I guess he's NOT gettin' too old for this shit! ❤

[cookiebear]

This is spot on. McDonald's workers in Denmark make $22 an hour. Their country is 70% unionized. It is not a coincidence. It is a direct correlation.

[emiebex]

It's a step in Taking away power from CEO's, & Shareholders, & giving it back to the employees who actually make the company successful.

[vincentm]

All that money Amazon make that's ridiculous

[mafosa]

If Amazon took better care of their employees.
They wouldn’t be having that interview!

Larry

[falsificationism]

Danny Glover's a real one, folks! Respect.

[waltershink]

From West Michigan.
We stand with workers We Stand Together.
Peace and Solidarity!

[helenpruzan]

I hope Unions can return in this Country.

[marioospina]

The Syndicate of "Amazon" and Mr. Glover are inspiring. As a song says "in union we are".

[marshall]

Thank you for your reporting. Got this recommendation from an ad and I subscribed.

[thomasfuller]

I agree with most of what Mr Glover says...but what happens as so many times before they leave to so called better terms in other countries which in turn are domes of the things unions are for is a global workforce???

[itsnotonepieceitsthatpiece]

7:17-7:53 Most of those (except for the physical labor bits) are a perfect description of call/contact centers.

[KRich]

A properly run Union is a good thing when a company is as big as amazon but if they are not run properly they can be very bad!!! Bethlehem Steel workers lost everything pensions was one of them I personally know retired steel workers that had there pensions stop dead because of mismanagement that was partly fault of the union!

[printman]

Time to start suspending or canceling our Amazon subscriptions. Let’s see if our $$$ talks & Amazon listens.

[allandavies]

Because a business model works it does not mean it is good for socities. Good business v Bad business is something that needs to be carefully regulated by un-corrupted governments. A big ask that requires workers Unions to be on government bodies to oversee fare play!

[UBETUBEME]

Time to Unite or be Divided
Boycott— Boycott—Boycott
If you want change

[vincentmcshan]

All Amazon employees worldwide should pool their money and just buy Amazon and set your own working conditions. That was the intended use of the corporation in the first place when profit-sharing by all employees was common compensation, the way it should be! Amazon can't exist without it's workforce. It's workforce should own it, it shouldn't own them.

[reptroiskingofthecity]

Amazing you guys camr to bessemer for an Amazon story but ignored my email about the abuse going on at the ADOC prison facility in bessemer... Nice to see where your true priorities ly

[edc]

Prison labor all over America now; looking at that warehouse IT MOVES AND FEELS LIKE A PRISON, don't it.
BECAUSE IT IS.