Washington DC: Amazon workers in the US, backed by the Teamsters union, are threatening to strike ahead of Christmas, claiming the e-commerce giant has refused to recognize their union or meet a December 15 deadline for contract negotiations.
The proposed industrial action could affect facilities in Southern California, New York, and Illinois, according to a Teamsters statement.
Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said that, “The corporate elitists who run Amazon are leaving workers with no choice, if workers are forced onto the picket line, Amazon will be striking itself.”
The union asserts it represents thousands of workers across 10 Amazon facilities, though Amazon disputes this claim.
Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards accused the union of misleading the public, stating that, “The Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal.”
AMAZON TEAMSTERS AUTHORIZE STRIKES AT FOUR CALIFORNIA FACILITIES
Amazon Teamsters at four Southern-California facilities — DFX4, DAX5, KSBD, and DAX8 — have overwhelmingly authorized strikes after the corporation’s continued refusal to recognize their union and negotiate… pic.twitter.com/EUIcGDjxjO
— Teamsters (@Teamsters) December 17, 2024
This labour tension arises as Amazon faces renewed criticism over workplace safety. A congressional investigation led by Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders concluded that Amazon pushes its US warehouse workers to fulfil orders at speeds that result in injury rates 30% higher than the warehousing industry average.
The investigation, initiated in June 2023, involved 135 interviews and the review of over 1,000 documents. The findings allege that Amazon has resisted implementing safety measures to protect profits.
Amazon dismissed the report as “wrong on the facts,” claiming it relied on “selective, outdated information” lacking context.
Worker safety has been a long-standing issue for the company, amplified during the Covid pandemic when surging e-commerce demand led to global worker protests.
Founder Jeff Bezos had previously acknowledged the need for better treatment of employees amid rising scrutiny.
With approximately 800,000 employees in the US, Amazon continues to face mounting pressure from both unions and lawmakers to address workplace conditions and labour practices.
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