Amazon Workers Begin Strike Amid Contract Negotations
Thousands of Workers Join Picket Line, Union Says
Workers at seven Amazon facilities are beginning a strike on Thursday, an effort by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to pressure the e-commerce company for a labor agreement during a key shopping period. The strike is expected to be the largest against Amazon in U.S. history, with nearly 10,000 workers at 10 facilities participating.
Union Sets Deadline, Amazon Ignored
The Teamsters say the workers, who authorized strikes in the past few days, are joining the picket line after Amazon ignored a December 15 deadline for contract negotiations. The union claims that Amazon is trying to push its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned.
Key Facilities Involved
The strikes are taking place at one warehouse in San Francisco, California, and six delivery stations in southern California, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois. Amazon workers at other facilities are prepared to join, according to the union.
Amazon’s Response
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said that the delivery drivers, which the Teamsters have organized, are not its employees. The company claims that the drivers work for third-party businesses, called Delivery Service Partners, who drop off millions of packages to customers every day. Amazon has been seeking to re-do the election that led to the union victory at the Staten Island warehouse, which the Teamsters now represent.
Union’s Argument
The Teamsters argue that Amazon essentially controls everything the drivers do and should be classified as an employer. Some U.S. labor regulators have sided with the union in filings made before the National Labor Relations Board. In September, Amazon boosted pay for the drivers amid growing pressure.
Conclusion
The strike is a significant move by the Teamsters to pressure Amazon for a labor agreement. The union claims that Amazon is ignoring the workers’ demands for better wages and benefits, and that the company is trying to push its workers closer to the picket line. The outcome of the strike remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the power dynamics between Amazon and its workers are shifting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many workers are participating in the strike?
A: Nearly 10,000 workers at 10 Amazon facilities are participating in the strike.
Q: What are the main demands of the union?
A: The union is demanding better wages and benefits for Amazon workers.
Q: Why is Amazon resisting the union’s demands?
A: Amazon claims that the delivery drivers are not its employees and that they work for third-party businesses.
Q: What is the significance of this strike?
A: The strike is the largest against Amazon in U.S. history and a major test of the power of labor unions in the modern era.
