Amazon workers on strike in the US. Photo: X/@Teamsters Amazon workers on strike in the US. Photo: X/@Teamsters Amazon workers at seven facilities across the US went on strike on December 19falcon play, 2024. The strike, organized by the Teamsters union, is aimed at pushing Amazon to agree to better labor contracts during the critical holiday shopping period.
Large and established labor unions secured meaningful victories after strikes by Boeing factory workers, dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast ports, video game performers, and hotel and casino workers on the Las Vegas Strip. However, workers at prominent consumer brands like Starbucks and Amazon are still fighting for their first contracts.
Despite many Amazon warehouse workers and drivers voting to unionize, the company has refused to acknowledge these efforts, even as the powerful Teamsters union claims to represent them. Amazon has defended its labor practices, offering competitive wages and benefits. But the union is determined to secure more for workers who contribute to the company’s massive profits.
Here's an overview of the situation:
Why are Amazon workers on strike?
TheInternational Brotherhood of Teamsters represents nearly 10,000 Amazon employees at various facilities, including warehouse workers and delivery drivers. These workers went on strike after Amazon failed to meet a deadline for contract negotiations set by the union. The strike involves workers at one warehouse in San Francisco, California, and six delivery stations across New York City, Southern California, Atlanta, and Skokie, Illinois.
The Teamsters argue that Amazon has ignored workers’ demands for better wages, improved benefits, and safer working conditions, especially during the peak holiday season. “Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned,” AP quoted Teamsters General President Sean M O'Brien.Many workers at Amazon, especially those in warehouses and delivery positions, face economic insecurity despite the company’s massive profits. The Teamsters are seeking to secure a fair contract for these workers, who have played an essential role in Amazon’s success.
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In addition to wages and benefits, the Teamsters are fighting for more job protections and improved workplace safety measures. The union has also been pushing to have delivery drivers classified as Amazon employees rather than independent contractors, which would entitle them to more protections under US labor law.
This strike is considered the largest against Amazon in the US to date, despite the company's claim that it doesn't expect any significant disruption to operations.
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Why strike during the holiday season?The strikes come during the holiday season, marking a strategic move by unions, as they can exert maximum pressure on companies during a time of heightened consumer activity. For Amazon, the holiday shopping period is critical, making this a key moment for the Teamsters to push for a labor agreement.
The timing also follows a broader trend of increased labor organizing, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Amazon and Starbucks saw a wave of organizing efforts following the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic highlighted issues like economic inequality and the challenges faced by front-line workers, leading to a surge in unionization efforts at major companies like Amazon and Starbucks.
Amazon’s response to the strikeAmazon has pushed back against the Teamsters' efforts. The company insists that many of the workers involved in the strike, particularly delivery drivers, are not direct employees but rather work for third-party contractors. Amazon's business model relies on contractors, known as Delivery Service Partners (DSPs), to handle package deliveries.
However, the Teamsters argue that Amazon has significant control over the drivers' work, including scheduling and routes, and should therefore be classified as their employer.
“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.
According to AP, some US labor regulators have sided with the union in filings made before the NLRB. In September, Amazon boosted pay for the drivers amid the growing pressure.
Workers strike before the onset of the Trump administration
These strikes come at a critical time as workers seek to gain leverage before President-elect Donald Trump appoints a Republican-majority National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which could potentially reduce support for unions.
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quick slotAlthough Trump’s first term was marked by policies seen as less favorable to unions, there are signs he might take a friendlier approach to labor in his second term. Trump recently selected Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican with union backing, to lead the Department of Labor. The Teamsters unionfalcon play, in particular, has expressed optimism, with President Sean O'Brien even speaking at the Republican National Convention.