Teamsters President Joins Workers as Amazon Strike Hits Day 2

Teamsters President Joins Workers as Amazon Strike Hits Day 2.

The action follows the union's assertion that Amazon has declined to engage in negotiations with its employees.

Workers associated with the Teamsters initiated strikes at Amazon facilities nationwide on Thursday morning, marking what the union describes as the largest strike in history against the e-commerce giant, occurring just days before Christmas.

In a press release issued on Thursday evening, the union reported that "thousands of Teamsters" were participating in the strikes at locations in New York City, Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco, and Illinois, although specific participant numbers were not disclosed. Furthermore, the union announced that Teamsters President Sean O'Brien would join striking members at a facility in City of Industry, California, on Friday as the strike approached its second day.

Additionally, the Teamsters indicated that local unions were also conducting picketing activities at "hundreds" of Amazon Fulfillment Centers across the country.

Amazon stated that the strike was anticipated to have no effect on operations and asserted that external organizers were involved in the strikes.

“What you see here are almost entirely outsiders—not Amazon employees or partners—and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters," an Amazon spokesperson said in a emailed statement a few hours after the strikes began Thursday morning.

"The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to come and harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous. We appreciate all our team’s great work to serve their customers and communities, and are continuing to focus on getting customers their holiday orders.”

Nearly 9,000 Amazon employees from 20 different bargaining units have joined the influential International Brotherhood of Teamsters, according to the union's statement. The workers currently on strike account for less than 1% of Amazon's global workforce of 1.5 million, which includes 800,000 individuals based in the United States.

The Teamsters, in their announcement made earlier this week, characterized the action as the "largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history," stating that it was initiated after Amazon declined to engage in negotiations with the workers represented by the Teamsters. The union indicated that the striking workers are advocating for increased wages, enhanced benefits, and safer working conditions.

"If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon's insatiable greed," O'Brien said in a statement Thursday announcing the strike. "We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it."

An Amazon representative stated to ABC News that the Teamsters unlawfully pressured employees to become union members.

"For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public – claiming that they represent 'thousands of Amazon employees and drivers'. They don't, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative," Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement Thursday. "The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union."

The representative stated that the organization has raised the initial minimum wage for employees in fulfillment centers and transportation roles by 20%, and in September, the average base wage was elevated to $22 per hour.

The Teamsters' announced strike follows the authorization of a walkout by workers at multiple Amazon locations.

The warehouse located in Staten Island, New York City, marked Amazon's inaugural unionized facility. Employees at this site have reported that the company has declined to acknowledge the union and engage in contract negotiations following the workers' decision to unionize in 2022.

The union representing the workers at the facility has been officially certified by the National Labor Relations Board; however, Amazon has filed an appeal against this decision.

Amazon's response to the Teamsters strike reveals a concerning disregard for worker rights and fair negotiations. By labeling striking employees as "outsiders" and dismissing their demands, Amazon demonstrates a lack of commitment to resolving labor issues. Despite claims of raising wages, the company continues to face accusations of unsafe working conditions, unfair labor practices, and failure to negotiate with unionized workers.

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This antagonistic approach only fuels the growing discontent among employees, leaving unresolved issues that threaten both worker morale and the company's long-term reputation. Amazon's refusal to engage meaningfully with labor representatives is a troubling sign of corporate indifference.