Key Points
- Amazon workers at seven facilities in New York, Georgia, California, and Illinois went on strike Thursday, demanding better benefits, higher wages, and improved workplace safety.
- The strike, led by the Teamsters union, aims to pressure Amazon to negotiate a contract and avoid holiday season disruptions.
- Teamsters President Sean O’Brien criticized Amazon's refusal to meet demands, stating, "If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed."
Strikes Target Amazon During Peak Shopping Season
Amazon employees staged walkouts at facilities across four states on Thursday, marking a significant escalation in labor tensions during the critical holiday shopping season. Organized by the Teamsters union, the strike is part of a broader push for better working conditions and increased wages.
The union had previously set a Sunday deadline for Amazon to agree to bargaining dates for contract negotiations. However, the company did not respond, prompting the largest strike action against Amazon in U.S. history, according to the Teamsters.
In a statement, O’Brien accused Amazon of prioritizing profits over worker well-being. "We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it," he said.
Amazon Denounces Strike as Misleading
Amazon countered the union’s claims, asserting that most of the protesters were not employees. In a statement to CNBC, a spokesperson described the Teamsters’ actions as a "year-long campaign to intentionally mislead the public."
“The truth is they were unable to gain sufficient support from our employees and partners, so they brought in outsiders to harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous,” the spokesperson said. The company emphasized its continued focus on fulfilling holiday orders.
The Teamsters dispute Amazon’s claims, reporting that nearly 10,000 Amazon workers have joined their ranks—representing less than 1% of the company’s 1.53 million-strong workforce.
A Growing Push for Unionization
Amazon has long resisted union efforts among its workforce. However, organizing campaigns gained momentum in 2022 when workers at the Staten Island warehouse successfully voted to unionize.
Since then, the Amazon Labor Union, which led the Staten Island effort, affiliated with the Teamsters in June after struggling to negotiate a contract independently.
Thursday's strike highlights growing dissatisfaction among some Amazon employees, despite the company’s efforts to stymie unionization. Whether this strike will lead to meaningful concessions or further entrench the conflict remains to be seen.
