US labour union the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has declared a nationwide strike against US retailer Amazon following the e-commerce giant’s consistent refusal to engage in negotiations with its employees in pursuit of improved work conditions.
10,000 Amazon employees have rallied under the Teamsters banner, advocating for increased pay, improved benefits and safer working environments.
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The reluctance of Amazon to engage in labour negotiations by 15 December 2024 — the deadline set by the Teamsters — has escalated tensions and brought workers closer to initiating a large-scale strike.
Commencing on 19 December, the strike action will see participation from workers at Amazon locations DBK4 in New York City, DGT8 in Atlanta, DFX4, DAX5 and DAX8 in Southern California, DCK6 in San Francisco and DIL7 in Skokie, Illinois.
The momentum to unionise with the Teamsters is building among Amazon workers across the country.
Additional Teamsters-represented Amazon employees are also poised to support the strike effort.
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By GlobalDataTeamsters’ local chapters are also establishing primary picket lines at numerous Amazon fulfilment centres. Warehouse workers and drivers from Amazon who do not have union contracts are legally entitled to support these picket lines by refraining from work.
Amazon is the second-largest company on the Fortune 500 list. But despite its valuation exceeding $2tn, it has been criticised for not providing adequate wages for its workforce.
Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien stated: “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed. We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it.
“These greedy executives had every chance to show decency and respect for the people who make their obscene profits possible. Instead, they’ve pushed workers to the limit and now they’re paying the price. This strike is on them.”
During the critical pre-holiday sales period, major retailers are seeing an increasing readiness by staff to participate in such protests.
Recently, Starbucks Workers United members have declared their readiness to strike following a vote that took place on 17 December 2024.
A 98% majority authorised potential strike action as leverage for fair wage increases, benefits enhancements, appropriate staffing levels, action to address numerous unresolved unfair labour practice charges and the settlement of ongoing legal disputes with Starbucks.
The decision regarding when to initiate a strike remains undetermined.
The authorisation coincides with preparations for union representatives to re-engage with Starbucks on 17 December for what is scheduled as 2024’s final foundational framework bargaining session.
