Amazon Workers Strike Just Before Christmas
As Christmas approaches, thousands of Amazon warehouse workers across four U.S. states initiated a strike on December 19, raising concerns about potential delivery delays during the festive season. The strike resulted from Amazon’s refusal to begin contract negotiations with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a labor union claiming to represent 7,000 Amazon workers, which is less than one percent of the company’s workforce in the U.S.
The Teamsters, representing members at seven facilities located in Skokie, Illinois; New York City; Atlanta; San Francisco; and Southern California, have launched the largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history, with expectations that more workers might join the action. The union asserts that it represents nearly 10,000 workers across ten facilities, but Amazon disputes this affiliation.
Reasons Behind the Strike
The strike was organized after the Teamsters accused Amazon of ignoring a December 15 deadline to negotiate better wages, improved benefits, and safer working conditions. Warehouse employees and delivery drivers have reported that their working conditions have been extremely demanding and unsafe.
Sean O’Brien, General President of Teamsters, stated, ‘If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed. We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it.’ O’Brien critiqued Amazon executives for failing to respect and pay their workers fairly, attributing the strike to the company’s lack of action.
TEAMSTERS LAUNCH LARGEST STRIKE AGAINST AMAZON IN AMERICAN HISTORY
The Teamsters will launch the largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history beginning at 6 a.m. EST on Thursday, December 19…
Impact on Deliveries
While the strike poses a potential threat to holiday deliveries, Amazon asserts that the action will not impact its delivery capabilities. An Amazon spokesperson called the Teamsters’ claims ‘misleading,’ stating that the organization does not represent a significant number of employees and alleging illegal practices by the Teamsters to recruit workers.
The spokesperson added, ‘For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public. The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened and attempted to coerce Amazon employees.’ This statement reflects Amazon’s ongoing tension with the labor union and its attempt to keep operations running smoothly despite the strike.
Future of the Strike
With no indication of forthcoming negotiations from Amazon, the strike may extend beyond Christmas and into the New Year, prolonging uncertainties regarding delivery timelines as consumer demand peaks during the holiday season.
