Teamsters Win Amazon Union Case, But Face Uncertain Appeal Future

An NLRB administrative law judge has ruled in favor of the Teamsters, ordering Amazon to recognize union representation at its DCK6 warehouse in San Francisco based on authorization card signatures—a "card check" process that bypasses traditional secret-ballot elections. This marks the first major test of the Biden-era Cemex precedent, which created an alternative pathway to union recognition. However, the victory may be pyrrhic; the case is expected to reach the full NLRB, which will soon have a three-member Republican majority capable of overturning Cemex and returning to the prior Linden Lumber standard that allows employers to demand secret-ballot elections instead.

For Amazon and other major retailers with large warehouse workforces, the outcome carries significant operational and cost implications. While the current ruling represents a setback for the company, the regulatory landscape is shifting rapidly. A return to the Linden Lumber standard would substantially weaken card-check organizing and restore employer leverage over union recognition timelines.

Supply chain executives managing large fulfillment networks should prepare for both scenarios: potential near-term unionization efforts at multiple facilities under Cemex, and longer-term uncertainty regarding labor costs, scheduling flexibility, and workforce collaboration once Republican appointees reshape labor law. This case underscores mounting labor activism in the logistics sector and the extreme regulatory volatility facing employers in polarized political times. The Sixth Circuit has already rejected Cemex in federal court, and the NLRB's acting general counsel rescinded the Cemex memo early in 2025, yet the ALJ proceeded with the decision anyway—reflecting internal disagreement and legal uncertainty that will persist through appeals.