Traditionally the Democratic party has sided with unions and workers.
It has presented itself as the champion of the working man and workers’ rights, enjoying votes for decades from those who considered the Republican party to represent the elites and big business.
That perception is changing, however, as the Democrats continue their embrace of Big Tech and multinational globalism, and the Republicans increasingly side with working people against the anti-worker, anti-family policies of the Democratic party.
The latest member of the GOP to stand up for workers is Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who recently penned a strong op-ed where he stated full support for Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama who are in the process of unionizing.
Why Does Rubio Support the Union Vote?
According to Rubio, it’s vital that everyone support the workers in unionizing, because Amazon is an elitist company that has “waged a war against working-class values” and wants to hold down its employees and take advantage of them and their labor.
In his op-ed, Rubio wrote that he will no longer be going along with any big business agenda and that corporations should be careful in assuming that Republicans will always be on their side going forward.
“The days of conservatives being taken for granted by the business community are over. Here’s my standard: When the conflict is between working Americans and a company whose leadership has decided to wage culture war against working-class values, the choice is easy — I support the workers.”
Well said, Senator Rubio.
Good on Sen. Rubio and his staff. America doesn't need two parties for the rich. https://t.co/SKiMUSQv05
— Darel E. Paul (@darelmass) March 12, 2021
What’s Going on in Bessemer?
Bessemer, Alabama is located about 20 minutes southwest of Birmingham. It’s the location of a large Amazon warehouse where around 6,000 employees work hard everyday to help Jeff Bezos’ giant monopoly rake in its record profits.
Workers in Bessemer are voting by mail on whether to join Amazon’s Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. This is actually the first time that there’s been a real push to unionize in Amazon since 2014, which makes it especially significant. It also puts the warehouse high on Amazon’s radar, since unionization is something they are not very big fans of, to say the least.
Employees got ballots to vote starting in early February and have until March 29 to cast a vote.
For their part, the Democrats also say they support the unionization effort, with various members of Congress going to the warehouse for a photo op to say they support the vote. President Joe Biden also chipped in with his support for the unionization, saying workers should have their voices heard.
Is Rubio a Union Man Now?
Despite his strong support for pushing back against Amazon, Rubio is not going all in on unions, keeping his opinion that bad relations between workers and their management can sap the competitiveness of industries. Nonetheless, the Florida Senator sees a clear case in Alabama of where the rights of the workers and their desire to be heard overrules the faceless corporate greed of the progressive agenda of Amazon.
The workers are hearing him, too.
Union President Stuart Applebaum said the Amazon employees are grateful for Rubio’s support, noting that:
“Senator Rubio’s support demonstrates that the best way for working people to achieve dignity and respect in the workplace is through unionization. This should not be a partisan issue.”
Amazon had no comment on Rubio’s union position, although its past position has been that workers shouldn’t need a union because they are already willing and ready to listen to their concerns and issues. Amazon has also been actively organizing against unionization and forced workers to come to meetings where it lays out the case against unions to them.
