Labor organizer held during campaign for Amazon union vote

Amazon labor organizer Christian Smalls was arrested on Wednesday, after being accused of trespassing when delivering warehouse workers food as part of a union campaign he is leading.

Smalls, a former Amazon employee, and two others were charged with obstructing governmental administration, said John Grimpel of the New York City Police Department, adding that Smalls was also charged with resisting arrest and trespassing. All three were later released.

Smalls' quest to make Amazon's JFK8 Staten Island warehouse a unionized facility will come to a head when workers vote starting March 25.

A second closely watched election is currently occurring at Amazon's Bessemer, Alabama warehouse until March 25.

A majority vote to unionize at either facility would mark Amazon's first organized workplace in the United States.

Smalls said he brought food on Wednesday afternoon for employees, something he has done for months. But this time, Smalls said the Amazon manager who had fired him two years ago told him to leave, later calling the police.