Amazon warehouse workers await outcome of another union vote

Amazon union

For the fourth time this year, Amazon warehouse workers await their fate amid a crucial union vote.

At an Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) facility near Albany, New York, workers over the past several days voted on whether to join the independent Amazon Labor Union (ALU). Results of the election are to be announced Tuesday, and a simple majority would be enough to secure victory pending challenges from Amazon.

The vote, if it passes, would be just the second successful union vote in Amazon’s 28-year...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-warehouse-workers-await-outcome-of-another-union-vote

Walmart lays off almost 1,500 workers at Atlanta facility

Walmart fulfillment warehouse facility

At the same time it searches for tens of thousands of seasonal workers in preparation for peak season, the world’s largest retailer is letting go of about 1,500 dedicated associates.

Walmart (NYSE: WMT) plans to lay off 1,458 employees at its fulfillment center outside of Atlanta as it converts the facility into a dedicated hub for Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), its growing supply chain business.

A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) issued last week revealed that the nearly...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/walmart-lays-off-almost-1500-workers-at-atlanta-facility

Amazon bumps pay for warehouse, delivery workers

Amazon warehouse delivery

It’s been a tumultuous couple months for Amazon’s logistics network as it contends with unionization efforts, an overbuild of warehouse space and an OSHA investigation into working conditions.

The heat is on. But the e-commerce giant just took a step to smooth over its relationship with front-line workers.

On Wednesday, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced that beginning in October, warehouse workers and delivery drivers will see their average starting pay rise from $18 to over $19 an hour. The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-bumps-pay-for-warehouse-delivery-workers

Wage and bonus increases seen as necessary to attract warehouse talent

More than three-quarters of supply chain executives believe wages and bonuses will need to be increased to attract and retain warehouse workers moving forward.

The survey, conducted by warehouse automation and robotics firm Berkshire Grey, found that 76% of surveyed executives believe wages will need to rise and 63% said they’ll need to increase bonuses to attract and retain workers. Those same executives pointed to automation as a way to minimize some of the future workers’ concerns.

“Labor...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wage-and-bonus-increases-seen-as-necessary-to-attract-warehouse-talent

Amazon likely to lose key union battle after NLRB recommendation

Amazon labor union warehouse

There’s a battle brewing in Amazon’s warehouses, and the massive marketplace is losing traction.

A federal labor official with the National Labor Relations Board’s Arizona office on Thursday recommended that the agency uphold a historic union victory at an Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) warehouse in Staten Island, New York.

Following a successful union vote in April, Amazon filed 25 objections with the NLRB against the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) — the group responsible for organizing the vote — including...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-likely-to-lose-key-union-battle-after-nlrb-recommendation

Amazon is doubling down on its warehouse strategy

Amazon warehouse fulfillment center

So far in 2022, Amazon’s U.S. facility network has flopped.

After more than doubling its warehouse square footage since the start of the pandemic, the company has been hit with a wave of delays and closures. In total, Amazon has canceled, closed, delayed or put on hold more than 40 centers across the country, according to supply chain consultancy MWPVL International.

Yet the e-commerce superpower is still betting big on warehousing. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is pushing for a trio of massive,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-is-doubling-down-on-its-warehouse-strategy

This luxury e-commerce fulfillment platform is using drones to manage inventory

Vimaan warehouse drone

The logistics industry is really starting to talk about drone delivery as Amazon, Alphabet, UPS and others get their services off the ground. Modern Shipper even launched a new show about drone delivery tech to get in on the conversation.

But even within the logistics space, drones are far from one-trick ponies.

E-commerce order fulfillment platform PFS, a subsidiary of PFSweb Inc. (NASDAQ: PFSW) which counts luxury brands like Pandora and L’Oreal as clients, is partnering with tech provider...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/this-luxury-e-commerce-fulfillment-platform-is-using-drones-to-manage-inventory