Birmingham Mayor Clarifies Statement On Amazon Workers In Bessemer

From the City of Birmingham:

February 23, 2021

I made a statement on Twitter yesterday about representing all workers as Mayor of Birmingham. After speaking with folks in the labor movement today, I want to take an opportunity to clarify and share my support for RWDSU and the Amazon workers in Bessemer in their journey to unionize BHM1.

I want to state for the record that I am unequivocally pro-worker, which means pro-union. Without unions, we would not have the 40-hour work week, vacation days, sick leave, or employee benefits that millions rely on. Unions built the middle class of this country, and have played a historic role in shaping Birmingham and Jefferson County as a whole, granting opportunities to thousands of working families. Birmingham has a long history of workers of all races banding together to demand better working conditions, and the unionization effort in Bessemer is a critical chapter in the history of organized labor in our community.

All workers deserve the right to meaningfully affect their working conditions through organizing a union.

This press release was produced by the City of Birmingham. The views expressed are the author's own.