Workers at seven Amazon facilities initiated a strike on Thursday morning, orchestrated by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, as part of a drive to secure a labor agreement during a busy shopping season. Picketing has commenced at various locations, including in Queens, New York City.
The Teamsters claim these workers, who approved walkouts recently, are taking action after Amazon disregarded a deadline of December 15 for contract negotiations. While the union describes this strike as the largest against Amazon in the U.S., the company asserts it does not anticipate any operational disruptions.
The Teamsters represent roughly 10,000 workers across ten Amazon facilities, a small fraction of the 1.5 million employees Amazon has. The union’s action comes at a significant time, as Amazon ranks second on the Fortune 500 list.
In Staten Island, a warehouse where thousands voted for the Amazon Labor Union in 2022 has seen workers subsequently unite with the Teamsters. Other facilities have demonstrated support for the Teamsters without formally electing them through government-administered processes.
The strikes are occurring at locations including an Amazon warehouse in San Francisco and various delivery stations across Southern California, New York City, Atlanta, and Skokie, Illinois, with indications that more Amazon workers may join them.
Kevin Schmitt, head of Local Teamsters 249, expressed solidarity with Amazon workers across the nation, even as workers at the Imperial facility in Pittsburgh are not unionized.
Sean M. O’Brien, President of the Teamsters, criticized Amazon for not respecting its workers, claiming that delays with holiday packages should be attributed to the company’s greed, as they failed to respond to the union’s request for negotiations.
Amidst these events, Amazon is pursuing a re-evaluation of the election that granted the union recognition at the Staten Island warehouse and has filed a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) actions.
Amazon maintains that the delivery drivers targeted by the Teamsters are not their employees, as they work for independent businesses that partner with Amazon. They claim that the Teamsters are misleading the public about their representation of Amazon workers.
Some labor regulators have sided with the union in ongoing disputes, with Amazon recently increasing pay for drivers amid increasing scrutiny.
This situation represents a significant moment for labor relations within one of the world’s largest companies. The ongoing strike highlights the growing pressures on Amazon to address worker satisfaction and labor relations. As public awareness rises and more workers rally for their rights, this could lead to more substantial discussions about labor practices in the e-commerce industry moving forward.
In summary, the strike represents a landmark moment in labor rights as workers seek to be heard and respected, and it could serve as a catalyst for broader changes in the corporate landscape regarding labor agreements and worker rights.