So when you unionize, you sign cards or a petition saying you want a union. It's then up to the employer to either start negotiating a contract with the workers (lol) or to hold an election.

If a majority votes "yes", then the employer is required to recognize the union and begin bargaining (negotiating) or face fines.

The problem is that most employers will hold and election and then run a campaign of dissuasion and intimidation.

The NLRB (the US's organized labor referee, set up to prevent outright class conflict) just ruled that if an employer abuses the election process to keep the union out, they can be required to bargain.

If this law had been in place before, the Bessemer Amazon warehouse would probably be union right now.