Amazon takes 2-1 lead in union election; count to continue on Friday

Amazon.com Inc. took a commanding lead in a historic election to determine whether workers at its warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, will become the first in the US to join a retail union.

When federal officials halted the count at about 7 pm eastern, Amazon was ahead with 1,100 nos to 463 yeses for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The count will resume Friday, with about half of the 3,215 ballots cast not yet counted.

With Amazon ahead in the tally, the union telegraphed its intentions to appeal the result.

“Our system is broken, Amazon took full advantage of that, and we will be calling on the labor board to hold Amazon accountable for its illegal and egregious behavior during the campaign,” said Stuart Appelbaum, RWDSU president.