In a significant labor action, workers at seven Amazon facilities initiated a strike on Thursday, organized by the Teamsters union, as they push for a labor agreement during a crucial holiday shopping period. This move comes after Amazon allegedly ignored a deadline set by the union for contract negotiations.

The Teamsters represent nearly 10,000 workers across 10 Amazon facilities, which is a small fraction of Amazon’s vast workforce of approximately 1.5 million employees worldwide. The strike is described as the largest against Amazon in U.S. history, although Amazon stated that it does not expect any operational disruptions as a result of the actions taken by the union.

The impacted locations include an Amazon warehouse in San Francisco, California, and six delivery stations spread across southern California, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois. The union announced that additional workers at the other facilities are also “prepared to join” the strikes.

Sean M. O’Brien, General President of the Teamsters, remarked, ‘Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned.’

Amid these ongoing labor disputes, Amazon is also challenging the recognition of a recent election at the Staten Island warehouse, where workers voted to unionize under the Amazon Labor Union, now affiliated with the Teamsters. A lawsuit has been filed by the company, questioning the constitutionality of decisions made by the National Labor Relations Board.

In response to the labor action, an Amazon representative stated that the company does not regard the delivery drivers involved as employees. Instead, they are classified as workers for third-party Delivery Service Partners, complicating the union’s claims regarding employment status. Despite Amazon’s stance, some labor regulators have endorsed the union’s position regarding the drivers’ relation to the company.

The strike occurs against a backdrop of booming profits for Amazon, with a reported net income of $39.2 billion in the first nine months of this year alone. Workers participating in the strike are advocating for better wages, healthcare, and safer working conditions, especially as they prepare for the busy holiday season.

As the holiday package rush looms, Teamsters members are urging management to negotiate fairly, stating, ‘If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed.’

This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.