Workers at seven Amazon facilities initiated a strike on Thursday, led by the Teamsters union in a bid to secure a labor agreement during a critical shopping period. This strike follows the workers’ recent decision to authorize the action, prompted by Amazon’s disregard for a Sunday deadline set by the union for contract negotiations. The Teamsters described this as the largest strike against Amazon in the U.S. to date, although the company claims that the action is not expected to disrupt its operations.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters asserts that it represents nearly 10,000 workers across 10 Amazon facilities, a small segment of Amazon’s workforce of 800,000 employees in U.S. warehouses. The union has not disclosed the exact number of participants or the duration of the strike.
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien criticized Amazon for not respecting its workforce, indicating that the company’s actions are pushing workers toward the picket line. The strikes occurred at seven delivery stations responsible for preparing packages for delivery, including sites in Southern California, San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, and Skokie, Illinois.
There were two arrests during the New York City demonstration, with police not providing details as to the reasons. Those arrested received criminal court summons before being released.
The largest warehouse linked to the Teamsters is located in Staten Island, where workers voted to unionize under the Amazon Labor Union last year and then decided to affiliate with the Teamsters this past summer. Although the National Labor Relations Board approved their unionization, Amazon has refused to negotiate a contract and is currently contesting the labor board’s authority through legal channels.
The striking workers unionized with the Teamsters by demonstrating majority support without holding formal elections. This practice, while uncommon, is allowed under labor law. The Teamsters mentioned that workers from more Amazon locations are ready to join the strike action, including those in Staten Island and a major air hub in California.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel characterized the strikers as primarily outsiders rather than Amazon employees, accusing the Teamsters of spreading misinformation. Nantel emphasized that delivery drivers, who the union claims to represent, are considered employees of third-party companies under Amazon’s delivery model. The Teamsters argue that Amazon retains control over these drivers, and labor regulators have sided with the union in some of their filings.
While Amazon anticipates that the strike will not majorly impact operations, prolonged walkouts could still lead to shipment delays in certain metropolitan areas. Notably, Amazon’s shares increased by approximately 1.3% on Thursday, despite a slight decline in after-hours trading.
This situation highlights ongoing tensions in labor relations within the gig economy, especially as workers increasingly demand recognition and fair treatment. The resolution of these strikes could pave the way for stronger labor agreements and set a precedent for future negotiations in the industry. The resilience of the workers fighting for their rights during peak shopping seasons is a hopeful indication of the potential for change in labor practices.