Teamsters launch largest strike against Amazon in US history to demand fair wages and working conditions

Amazon workers launch historic nationwide strike, demanding better wages, safer conditions, and union recognition from the $2 trillion corporation.

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Quick summary:

• The Teamsters launched the largest strike in U.S. history against Amazon on December 19, spanning multiple states and facilities.

• Workers are protesting Amazon’s refusal to negotiate union contracts, despite an NLRB ruling requiring the company to bargain.

• Striking workers demand higher wages, improved safety measures, and better benefits, citing unlivable pay and harsh working conditions.

• Amazon, valued at over $2 trillion, has spent millions on anti-union efforts and denies a legal obligation to negotiate with the Teamsters.

• The strike involves thousands of workers and has established picket lines at hundreds of fulfillment centers, risking holiday delivery delays.

• Public support has grown, with other unions like UPS drivers joining the picket lines in solidarity with Amazon workers.

• Teamsters President Sean O’Brien and workers emphasize the strike’s historic nature and vow to fight until their demands are met.

On Thursday, December 19, at 6 a.m. EST, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters launched the largest strike in U.S. history against Amazon. Thousands of Amazon workers across the country walked off the job to demand better wages, safer working conditions, and union recognition from the $2 trillion corporation. The nationwide strike represents a historic escalation in the battle between Amazon’s workforce and the e-commerce giant’s leadership.

“If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “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.”

The strike spans multiple facilities, including DBK4 in New York City, DGT8 in Atlanta, DCK6 in San Francisco, DIL7 in Skokie, Illinois, and DFX4, DAX5, and DAX8 in Southern California. Additional picket lines have been set up at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers across the country, and workers at non-unionized facilities have the legal right to honor these picket lines by withholding labor.

“What we’re doing is historic,” said Leah Pensler, a warehouse worker at DCK6 in San Francisco. “We are fighting against a vicious union-busting campaign, and we are going to win.”

Amazon workers have faced harsh working conditions for years. Long hours, grueling physical demands, and inadequate pay have led to a growing call for union representation. Nearly 10,000 Amazon workers have joined the Teamsters, and this strike marks the culmination of years of organizing efforts.

Amazon, the second-largest corporation on the Fortune 500 list, has faced criticism for prioritizing profits over the well-being of its workers. Despite its $2 trillion valuation, many Amazon employees report struggling to make ends meet.

“Amazon is one of the biggest, richest corporations in the world,” said Gabriel Irizarry, a driver at DIL7 in Skokie, Illinois. “They talk a big game about taking care of their workers, but when it comes down to it, Amazon does not respect us and our right to negotiate for better working conditions and wages. We can’t even afford to pay our bills.”

The strike also highlights the precarious financial situation of many workers. Ali Mohammed, a driver at the DBK4 facility in Queens, said he works long shifts for Amazon but must also drive for Uber on the side to make ends meet. “I’m hoping they can sit down and, you know, strike up a conversation at least… and make a deal,” he said, adding that Amazon should “look out for their workers a lot more instead of just thinking of their own pockets.”

Warehouse workers and delivery drivers are demanding higher wages, improved safety measures, and better benefits. Many describe Amazon’s operations as relentless, with expectations that push employees to their physical and mental limits.

Amazon has consistently opposed unionization efforts, spending millions on anti-union consultants and campaigns to dissuade workers from organizing. The company claims it is not legally obligated to negotiate with the Teamsters, even after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Amazon is a joint employer of some delivery drivers, requiring it to bargain with unionized workers.

“Why [don’t] they want to negotiate with us?” asked Yuli Lema, a driver for an Amazon Delivery Service Partner. “My pay is not sufficient. I simply want Amazon to sit down with the union and negotiate.”

The company’s refusal to come to the table has fueled frustration among workers, with many citing Amazon’s extensive resources as evidence that the company could afford to meet their demands.

The strike, occurring during the peak holiday season, is likely to delay package deliveries across the country. While Amazon claims it is prepared to mitigate disruptions, the strike underscores the fragility of the company’s reliance on its workforce.

Workers from other unions, including UPS drivers, have joined the picket lines to show solidarity. “We’re all standing together,” said Rich Pawlikowski, a UPS driver who supported Amazon workers in Queens. “They’re not looking to get rich. They just want a living wage. You know, New York’s expensive. We just want everybody [to have] enough to pay their rents, to pay their bills, to eat, to put a roof over their heads, and for their families to have a decent life.”

The strike also brings renewed attention to economic inequality in the U.S., with Amazon’s vast wealth standing in stark contrast to the struggles of its workers. Sean O’Brien emphasized that the strike is about more than just individual grievances. “These greedy executives had every chance to show decency and respect for the people who make their obscene profits possible,” he said.

The Teamsters have a long history of labor victories, and their growing presence at Amazon represents a significant challenge to the corporation’s labor practices. “I’ve seen the Teamsters win big battles,” said Dia Ortiz, a worker at DBK4 in New York. “We’re ready to do what it takes to win this one.”

This strike marks a turning point in the fight for labor rights at Amazon and signals broader momentum in the unionization movement. Whether Amazon will ultimately agree to negotiate with the Teamsters remains to be seen, but the workers on the picket lines are determined to fight until their demands are met.

“We are making history,” said Pensler. “And we’re not backing down.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

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