Amazon Joins Firms Claiming U.S. Labor Board Is Unconstitutional

Amazon.com has joined rocket maker SpaceX and grocery chain Trader Joe's in asserting that a US labor agency's in-house enforcement proceedings violate the US Constitution, as reported by Daniel Wiessner for Reuters.

Amazon stated in a filing made with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that it plans to argue that the agency's unique structure violates the company's right to a jury trial. I Photo: Joe Piette Flickr

Amazon stated in a filing made with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that it plans to argue that the agency's unique structure violates the company's right to a jury trial.

It also contended that limits on the removal of administrative judges and the board's five members, who are appointed by the president, are unconstitutional. The filing comes as Amazon faces numerous cases alleging it interfered with workers' rights to organize and harassed union organizers.

SpaceX is making similar claims against the board in a lawsuit filed last month, one day after the labor board accused the company of firing eight engineers for criticizing CEO Elon Musk in a letter to company executives.

Trader Joe's raised the arguments later in January at a hearing in an NLRB case, and two Starbucks baristas seeking to dissolve their unions have challenged the board's structure in separate lawsuits.

The board's general counsel issues complaints against employers alleging violations of federal labor law. These cases are initially heard by administrative judges and then by the five-member board, whose decisions can be appealed in federal court.

WEEKLY FEATURE : Jose Mari Chan And The Christmas Anthem