Christian Smalls is a highly influential and respected American labor organizer, who has dedicated his career to championing the rights and interests of Amazon workers in Staten Island, a borough located in the vibrant city of New York. Since founding and serving as the president of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) in 2021, Smalls has been a driving force in the fight for better working conditions, fair treatment, and improved job security for Amazon employees.
Born in the Garden State of New Jersey, Smalls embarked on an initial career trajectory as a rapper, showcasing his skills by touring with prominent artists such as Meek Mill, who is a renowned rapper and songwriter.
However, Smalls ultimately made the decision to abandon this path and instead chose to prioritize his role as a responsible father by securing a steady income in the service industry and warehouses.
On the thirtieth of March, two thousand and twenty, Christian Smalls, a prominent individual, orchestrated a walkout in protest of what he perceived to be a glaring deficiency in the implementation of adequate safety protocols at his workplace, specifically in relation to COVID-19 exposures.
Tragically, Smalls' actions did not go unnoticed, and he was summarily terminated on the same day, March thirtieth, for allegedly violating Amazon's social distancing policies during a mandatory, paid quarantine.
After being let go, Smalls went on to establish the Congress of Essential Workers, a pioneering organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of workers. This remarkable endeavor would ultimately pave the way for the formation of the Association of Legal Workers (ALU) on April 20, 2021.
The JFK8 warehouse, a pivotal hub of activity, would later make history by voting overwhelmingly in favor of unionization, with the ALU serving as their representative, on April 1, 2022.
Notably, Smalls' unwavering dedication and unstinting commitment to his craft have culminated in a prestigious distinction, as he has been included in the esteemed list of Time's most influential individuals of the year 2022, a testament to his profound impact on the world.
