(VitalNews.org) – Union bosses’ neverending greed has threatened to push Amazon to a standstill with stunning demands during the critical holiday season.
The Teamsters union has launched the largest strike in history against the e-commerce giant, strategically timed just before the Christmas rush.
Read the union’s full statement down below.
The Teamsters, representing nearly 10,000 Amazon workers, initiated the strike earlier today.
As primary picket lines form at Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide, workers from Atlanta’s DGT8 center and six other U.S. Amazon facilities walked off the job as a warning to the corporate giant.
This comes after Amazon ignored a December 15 deadline set by the union for contract negotiations.
The strike impacts key locations, including New York City, Atlanta, San Francisco, Southern California, and Skokie, Illinois.
Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien declared:
“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.”
Meanwhile, DIL7 driver Gabriel Irizarry said:
“Amazon is one of the biggest, richest corporations in the world. 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.”
In turn, Amazon accused the Teamsters of illegally forcing workers to join the union and misleading the public about their representation.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated:
“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.”
The Teamsters claim that Amazon controls the drivers’ work and should be considered their employer.
This strike is just the latest chapter in Amazon’s ongoing battle against unionization efforts.
The e-commerce giant is still contesting a 2022 union victory at a Staten Island warehouse and has even filed a lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Board.
Despite the union’s claims, Amazon increased driver pay in September and raised the average base wage to $22 per hour.
TEAMSTERS LAUNCH LARGEST STRIKE AGAINST AMAZON IN AMERICAN HISTORY
The Teamsters will launch the largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history beginning at 6 a.m. EST on Thurs., Dec. 19. The nationwide action follows Amazon’s repeated refusal to follow the law and bargain with… pic.twitter.com/A06NKciCDB
— Teamsters (@Teamsters) December 19, 2024
Copyright 2024, VitalNews.org
