Workers at the giant Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, declined to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union in a historic vote. In a stinging defeat for the labor movement, 1,798 workers decided against unionizing and 738 voted in favor of the union.

Employees at the warehouse faced intense anti-union pressure from the internet giant, which inundated them with text messages, literature and even posters in the bathroom urging them not to join a union. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union has alleged that Amazon illegally interfered with the unionizing effort and is filing charges with the National Labor Relations Board.

Pro-union Amazon workers have accused the company of having a mailbox placed where they could monitor employees mailing their ballot. Union advocates also allege the company had the timer of the traffic light outside the warehouse changed, reducing the time organizers could speak with workers waiting for a red light in their cars.

Pro-union workers were frustrated with how the company constantly monitored every second of their workday through technology. They also complained of abrupt, impersonal treatment by managers.

"We demand a comprehensive investigation over Amazon's behavior in corrupting this election," said the union's president, Stuart Appelbaum. "Working people deserve better than the way Amazon has conducted itself during this campaign."

NBC, April 5 and April 8
NPR, April 9