Amazon Workers Stage Strike Ahead of Holidays
As the holiday rush approaches, Amazon workers affiliated with the Teamsters union are taking a stand. A strike is underway at seven of the e-commerce giant's delivery hubs, with employees demanding higher wages and better working conditions.
The strike began on Thursday after Amazon ignored a Sunday deadline set by the union for contract negotiations. Workers at Starbucks stores have also joined in, planning a five-day strike starting Friday to protest lack of progress in contract talks.
Strike Locations
The strikes are taking place at three delivery hubs in Southern California, and one each in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois. The union hasn't disclosed the number of workers participating or how long the strike will last.
Vinnie Perrone, president of a local Teamsters union in metro New York, said Thursday that the walkout would continue "as long as it takes." The union claims to represent 10,000 Amazon workers at 10 facilities, with more locations prepared to join the fight.
- Employees at an Amazon air hub in California have authorized a strike
- Workers at an Amazon warehouse in New York have also joined the union
- The Teamsters says local unions are putting up picket lines at other Amazon warehouses
Worker Demands
The striking workers are fighting for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. The Teamsters have tried to get Amazon to come to the negotiating table since last year, but the company has refused.
In August, prosecutors classified Amazon as a "joint employer" of subcontracted drivers, and in September, the company boosted hourly pay for the drivers amid growing pressure. However, Amazon still refuses to recognize the workers' union.
Holiday Deliveries Unaffected
Amazon says it doesn't expect the strike to impact holiday shipments. The company claims its network and contingency planning will minimize potential operational impacts or costs.
An Amazon spokesperson said Thursday that the company intentionally builds its sites close to where customers are, schedules shipping windows, and works with other large carriers like UPS to deliver products.
Union Response
Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien was scheduled to rally with striking union members on Friday at one of the facilities in California. The union remains resolute in its demands for better working conditions and fair compensation for Amazon workers.
The strike is a bold move by Amazon workers, coming just days before Christmas. As the holiday rush approaches, it remains to be seen how the strike will impact holiday deliveries and whether Amazon will finally engage in meaningful contract negotiations with its employees.