Workers at Amazon connected to the Teamsters union have extended their strike on Friday, impacting seven delivery hubs days before the Christmas holiday.
As midnight approaches on Saturday, employees from a significant unionized facility in New York City are also set to join the walkout, although the union has not specified how many workers are taking part or when the strike will conclude.
This labor action follows a recent authorization by the workers to strike after Amazon neglected to meet a Sunday deadline for contract negotiations set by the union.
In a parallel action, Starbucks workers announced a five-day strike starting Friday due to ongoing frustrations over stalled contract negotiations.
Each Amazon delivery station has a few hundred employees, while the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, New York, employs thousands.
Despite the ongoing strike, a representative from Amazon stated that the company does not foresee any significant disruptions to holiday shipping.
The Teamsters have primarily been focusing on organizing delivery drivers employed by contractors handling package deliveries for Amazon.
However, Amazon has rejected calls for negotiation, claiming the drivers are not employees of the company.
The strikes are spreading across various locations, including three delivery hubs in Southern California, and one in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, and Skokie, Illinois, as per the union’s statement.
Although specific end dates for the actions have not been revealed, Vinnie Perrone, president of a local Teamsters union in the New York metropolitan area, noted they would continue indefinitely.
The Teamsters suggest they represent about 10,000 Amazon workers across ten different facilities, with additional workers ready to join the cause.
Starting Saturday, Amazon employees at the New York warehouse, which organized through the Amazon Labor Union in 2022 and subsequently affiliated with the Teamsters, will participate in the walkout.
According to the Teamsters, this facility is home to approximately 5,500 employees.
Union leaders encouraged community support during a Zoom call held Thursday evening, while employees at a California air hub have also given authorization for a potential strike.
Local Teamsters unions are reportedly setting up picket lines at more Amazon sites.
An Amazon spokesperson has claimed that the striking individuals comprise “almost entirely outsiders, not Amazon employees or partners,” dismissing the Teamsters’ suggestions as misleading.
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien is slated to join the striking workers for a rally at one of the California locations on Friday.
The demands of the striking employees include higher wages, improved benefits, and enhanced workplace safety conditions.
The Teamsters have been seeking negotiations with Amazon since last year, following the successful unionization of delivery drivers in California working for a subcontractor.
Amazon, denying any employment relationship with those workers, has faced accusations from the union of unfair labor practices presented to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
In August, federal labor prosecutors categorized Amazon as a “joint employer” of the subcontracted drivers, while in September, the company increased hourly wages for those drivers amid growing scrutiny.
Warehouse employees who voted for unionization in 2022 have also sought contractual negotiations, but the company has continuously resisted.
A lawsuit was filed by Amazon against the NLRB, contesting the election’s legitimacy and alleging the board had compromised the vote.
Many involved in the unionization efforts perceive that a strike may be the only pathway to compel Amazon to negotiate.
As for holiday deliveries, while Amazon claims the strike will have negligible effects on its operations, prolonged walkouts may cause delays in certain urban areas.
An Amazon representative reiterated that the company strategically situates its delivery sites near customers, coordinates shipping schedules, and partners with large carriers like UPS to ensure effective delivery.
“We believe in the strength of our network and plan for contingencies to minimize potential operational impact or costs,” they stated.
