1000’s of Teamsters union members went on strike in opposition to Amazon early Thursday morning at seven services in 4 states throughout the nation. This, after all, is all taking place at a deeply important time of 12 months for the net retail large: the vacation season.
The strike started at 6 a.m. on December 19 at services in New York Metropolis, Atlanta, SoCal, San Francisco and Illinois, as practically 10,000 Amazon employees walked off the job, in line with a press release from the Teamsters. Along with that, native unions will put up main picket strains at tons of of Amazon Achievement Facilities nationwide. This will likely find yourself being an actual mess, however Amazon isn’t too anxious. The corporate instructed CNN that the putting Teamsters account for lower than 1 p.c of its U.S. workforce.
Within the launch, the union mentioned its motion was the “largest strike in opposition to Amazon in U.S. historical past.” It added that this motion comes after Amazon refused to cut price with employees who organized with the union. It additionally mentioned to not blame union members in case your packages are delayed.
“In case your bundle is delayed in the course of the holidays, you possibly can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed. We gave Amazon a transparent deadline to come back to the desk and do proper by our members. They ignored it. These grasping executives had each probability to point out decency and respect for the individuals who make their obscene earnings doable. As an alternative, they’ve pushed employees to the restrict and now they’re paying the value,” Sean M. O’Brien, Teamsters Basic President, mentioned in a statement. “This strike is on them.”
Shockingly, Amazon is pointing the finger on the Teamsters for this dispute. Right here’s its assertion to ABC Information:
“For greater than a 12 months now, the Teamsters have continued to deliberately mislead the general public – claiming that they characterize ‘1000’s of Amazon workers and drivers’. They don’t, and that is one other try to push a false narrative,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel mentioned. “The reality is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and tried to coerce Amazon workers and third-party drivers to affix them, which is prohibited and is the topic of a number of pending unfair labor observe fees in opposition to the union.”
The spokesperson mentioned the corporate has elevated the beginning minimal wage for employees in achievement facilities and transportation workers by 20% and in September elevated common base wage to $22 per hour.
That is the most recent within the battle between Amazon and unions. Again in 2022, Amazon employees at a facility in Staten Island voted to unionize, making them the primary group at Amazon to take action. Since then, employees there say the corporate has refused to acknowledge the union and negotiate a contract. That is even supposing the Nationwide Labor Relations Board formally licensed the union representing employees on the facility. Amazon has appealed that ruling.
Anyway, please attempt to consider this in case your Christmas present is a bit late this 12 months: is it price it to have gadgets present up at your door instantly if the oldsters bringing it to you aren’t being handled pretty? I personally don’t suppose so, and I hope you’re feeling the identical means.
