Amazon delivery personnel and Starbucks baristas have initiated strikes in various U.S. cities, aiming to persuade these prominent corporations to recognize their union status or to fulfill demands for a labor contract. The strikes, which began on Thursday and Friday, follow a series of recent confrontations between major corporations and organized labor groups. Notably, several well-established labor unions achieved significant concessions from their employers earlier this year through strikes involving workers at Boeing, dockworkers along East and Gulf coasts, as well as those in the video gaming and hospitality industries on the Las Vegas Strip. However, workers at Amazon and Starbucks, alongside other well-known consumer brands, continue their struggle to secure their first contracts.
Amazon has resisted recognizing the unionization efforts of its delivery drivers and warehouse employees, many of whom have cast votes to form a union. Meanwhile, the Teamsters union claims to represent these workers. Starbucks has historically opposed the unionization of its stores but has recently committed to negotiating a contract by year’s end. The urgency of these strikes can be attributed to the timing, particularly during the holiday season, when economic activity peaks. This period provides unions the opportunity to enhance their negotiating power and draw support from both workers and consumers sympathetic to their causes.
The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a surge in organizing efforts at a variety of workplaces, including bookstores, where union representation is rare. Successful campaigns emerged for employees at companies such as Apple, Trader Joe’s, and REI. However, translating these organizing victories into actual contracts remains a daunting task. Notably, Amazon and Starbucks – both non-union prior to the pandemic – have yet to reach agreements with their employees, who are predominantly based in Seattle, the location of both corporations’ headquarters.
John Logan, director of labor studies at San Francisco State University, highlights that the urgency behind these strikes stems from worker concerns about potential political shifts affecting labor rights, especially with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Logan indicated that if negotiations extend into the following year and predominantly occur through the labor board and judicial processes, unions may struggle to maintain leverage. He noted that now may be an opportune moment for unions to mobilize public pressure on these businesses before any changes occur in the National Labor Relations Board’s majority.
Striking to enhance their bargaining position, the Teamsters union has initiated strikes at seven Amazon delivery stations across several cities, including Southern California, San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, and Skokie, Illinois. The strikes came after Amazon neglected a contractual negotiation deadline set by the labor union. Furthermore, the Teamsters indicated that a strike would begin at a pivotal New York warehouse, where workers voted to join the Amazon Labor Union in 2022. The union’s demands center around increased wages, improved benefits, and safer working conditions, given that employees at Amazon, which holds a staggering $2.3 trillion valuation, often face economic uncertainty.
The Teamsters primarily focus on organizing delivery drivers, despite Amazon’s stance that these workers are not directly employed by them but rather by contracted services. This arrangement complicates unionization efforts within the transportation and trucking industries, where the Teamsters play a dominant role. Nonetheless, the union contends that these drivers should be classified as company employees due to their visible connections to Amazon through uniforms and vehicles.
Although Amazon has disputed the narrative put forth by the Teamsters regarding their workforce representation, asserting that they offer competitive wages starting at $22 per hour plus benefits, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently confirmed that drivers are joint employees of Amazon and accused the company of unlawfully failing to engage in bargaining.
On a different front, negotiations have been underway at Starbucks for some time. However, the Starbucks Workers United union, which has organized workers at 535 company-owned stores since 2021, has voiced dissatisfaction over the company’s failure to reach a labor agreement as previously promised. Additionally, Starbucks is facing over a hundred unfair labor practice complaints filed with the NLRB, echoing similar claims against Amazon.
Strikes commenced in cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle, as Starbucks Workers United criticized Starbucks for proposing an economic package that lacks new wage increases immediately and offers only a 1.5% increase in subsequent years. Starbucks contends that Workers United prematurely ended a recent negotiation session despite maintaining that they provide compensation and benefits equivalent to $30 per hour for baristas working a minimum of 20 hours weekly.
The latest strikes led by Starbucks Workers United may expand significantly nationwide by Christmas Eve, following the precedent set by past walkouts last year. Patricia Campos-Medina of Cornell University projects an upsurge in union activities ahead of Trump’s inauguration, suggesting that public reactions to his policies will reveal his intentions toward the working class.
