Building worker power in North Carolina: Amazon C.A.U.S.E. workers at RDU1 lead the charge

Unionization efforts at Amazon’s RDU1 Fulfillment Center in Garner, NC, represent a pivotal moment for worker power in the South. Organized under Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity & Empowerment (C.A.U.S.E.), these workers are part of a growing movement that is challenging entrenched corporate practices and demanding fair wages, better conditions, and stronger worker protections. 

Why this effort matters 

North Carolina has a long and storied history with unions. Unions are legal in North Carolina, despite its status as a right-to-work state. The right-to-work law means that if a workplace is unionized, employees can benefit from the union’s collective bargaining efforts without being required to join the union.  This is intended to weaken the power of unions. In states with higher union density and more powerful unions it is normal to be required to join a union. Unsurprisingly, those states also have better working conditions and worker protections.   

For decades, union density in North Carolina has remained among the lowest in the country, hovering at just 2.8% as of 2024 with the national average being 9.9% as of 2024. This leaves workers with fewer protections and weaker bargaining power. Fortunately, worker-led organizing efforts have gained traction in industries like fast food, retail, and the service industry, where low wages and poor working conditions have persisted for far too long. 

North Carolina ranks dead last in worker conditions and rights to organize according to The Best and Worst States to Work in the US 2024 report by Oxfam America. 

The significance of Amazon workers beginning to organize cannot be overstated. Amazon employs over 1.5 million workers globally and reported $575 billion in revenue in 2023, yet, the company’s relentless focus on efficiency often translates into grueling conditions for its workers. 

Mary Hill, a proud Amazon worker and co-founder of C.A.U.S.E., captures the frustration many workers feel in our 2025 State of Working North Carolina — The Cost of Inaction report, 

 

“Jeff Bezos will never be broke. His great-great-great-great-grand babies will never be broke, and he doesn’t want to pay the people. If it weren’t for us, he wouldn’t have all these zeros behind his name.” 

Workers like Mary are at the forefront of a broader fight for economic justice, challenging a system that prioritizes profits over people. 

The significance of worker organizing in the South 

The South has historically resisted unionization, yet it is precisely here where worker power is most critical. North Carolina’s low scores from the Oxfam report are a direct reflection of policies that have left workers vulnerable: 

• Unemployment benefits cover only 9.2% of the wages needed to meet the cost of living. 

• Tipped minimum wage is an embarrassing $2.13/hour, just 29.4% of the state minimum wage. 

• Our neighboring state Virginia has raised its minimum wage to $12/hour (28.4% of the cost of living) for 2025, while North Carolina lags far behind in compensation. 

Despite these barriers, union victories at places like Amazon and Starbucks demonstrate that worker-led organizing can thrive even in the most hostile climates. 

Building power across divides 

Worker power transcends race, religion, and immigration status. It is about creating a united front to demand the changes needed to build a more equitable society. As Mary Hill reminds us, 

“We need to update this antiquated, inadequate system that’s been in place since forever, that’s no longer meeting the needs of working-class people.” 

This sentiment is echoed across industries. Christine Robinson, a certified nursing assistant, shared how low wages forced her into homelessness despite decades of experience in the report, 

“In this society, it’s a sin to be poor. It’s a crime. It’s a crime to be living in poverty, and there’s no relief for you.” 

A call to action 

The fight at Amazon is just the beginning.  

Collective action offers a path forward. Union efforts like C.A.U.S.E. at RDU1 provide a blueprint for challenging these entrenched inequities. 

To learn more about how organizing can create change, read our 2025 State of Working North Carolina — The Cost of Inaction report and join the movement to build worker power. Together, we can create a North Carolina where every worker has the dignity and respect they deserve. 

Build worker solidarity and volunteer with C.A.U.S.E.! The National Labor Relations Board determined that C.A.U.S.E had collected enough union authorization cards to trigger an election. The election will be held from February 10th to February 15th at the RDU1 Fulfillment Center. You can help support this vital movement by volunteering!

Together, we can build worker power!