Amazon workers affiliated with the Teamsters union are currently on strike at seven of the company’s delivery hubs just days before Christmas. The strike began on Thursday after Amazon failed to meet a deadline set by the union for contract negotiations. Workers at a unionized warehouse in New York will also join the strike at midnight on Saturday.
The Teamsters have not disclosed the number of employees participating in the walkouts or when they will end. The workers, who voted to authorize strikes recently, are demanding higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions.
The strikes are taking place at three delivery hubs in Southern California, as well as locations in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois. The union has not specified when the strikes will end, but local union president Vinnie Perrone stated that the walkout will continue “as long as it takes.”
In addition to the delivery hubs, employees at a company air hub in California have also authorized a strike. The Teamsters claim to represent 10,000 Amazon workers at 10 facilities and state that employees in more locations are prepared to join the fight.
The Amazon workers are primarily focused on organizing delivery drivers who work for contractors that handle package deliveries for the company. Amazon has refused to come to the negotiating table, as they do not consider the drivers to be their employees.
The striking workers are calling for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. The Teamsters have been trying to engage Amazon in negotiations since last year when they first unionized a group of delivery drivers in California. Amazon has consistently denied employing these workers.
Despite the strike, Amazon stated that they do not expect it to impact holiday shipments. The company has contingency plans in place to minimize any potential operational disruptions. They work closely with other carriers like UPS to ensure timely delivery of products to customers.
Overall, the Amazon workers on strike are determined to continue fighting for their rights and are prepared to do so for as long as it takes to achieve their demands. The Teamsters and their supporters are standing in solidarity with the workers in their pursuit of fair treatment and better working conditions.
