Amazon union organizer arrested for illegally trespassing at Amazon warehouse

Amazon labor organizer Christian Smalls was arrested on Wednesday and charged with trespassing while delivering food to warehouse workers , media reported .

Smalls, the former Amazon employee, and two other people were charged with obstructing governmental administration, New York City Police Department Lt. John Grimpel said, adding that Smalls was also charged with resisting arrest and criminal trespassing.

An advocacy group said the other two were Amazon workers. Smalls has said he disputes the charges and will continue to fight them in court. Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said Smalls "trespassed repeatedly despite numerous warnings."

Smalls , 33, will advance in a worker vote that begins March 25. A second closely watched election is currently underway at Amazon’s Bessemar, Alabama, warehouse, with mail-in ballots being accepted through March 25 and counting beginning March 28. Workers at the warehouse voted against unionization last year.

At both warehouses, a majority vote in favor of unionizing would mark Amazon's first organized workplaces in the U.S., a milestone for those seeking to revitalize the U.S. labor movement.

Reached by phone , Smalls said the Amazon manager who fired him two years ago asked him to leave and later called the police. Smalls said Amazon wanted to "add to the intimidation factor" by arresting him. Amazon had no immediate comment on Smalls ' claims.

His conflict with Amazon dates back to March 2020, when the company terminated his protest at JFK Airport despite being in paid quarantine. Smalls then sued Amazon, saying it fired him because he is black and opposed discriminatory coronavirus policies.

" These people are fighting for better working conditions and should be treated with respect and dignity ," said Sienna Fontaine, general counsel for the advocacy group Make the Road New York.

Smalls said the arrest would not stop him from organizing at the warehouse. "I'm on my way to the Amazon warehouse right now , " he said shortly before 10 p.m. ET , " I'm going to bring more food for the night shift."

Amazon warehouse

Employee Rights Protection

union