Amazon Teamsters Join Strike Amidst Bargaining Dispute with Company
The Facts -
- Amazon Teamsters at JFK8 join a historic strike against Amazon.
- The strike is due to Amazon's refusal to negotiate with unionized workers.
- Amazon workers demand respect and fair wages amid dangerous conditions.
Amazon Teamsters Join Historic Strike Across Multiple U.S. Locations
(STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.) – Starting at midnight, the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island will witness its Amazon Teamsters joining a historic labor strike. This action places them alongside numerous Teamsters already picketing at various Amazon locations including DBK4 in New York City, DGT8 in Atlanta, multiple sites in Southern California, San Francisco's DCK6, and DIL7 in Skokie, Illinois. The strike extends to hundreds of other Amazon facilities nationwide.
The catalyst for this expansive strike is Amazon’s continued refusal to engage in bargaining with its unionized workforce, the Teamsters. Amazon has persistently ignored calls to negotiate a fair agreement with its workers.
Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien criticized the company's leadership: “Amazon executives are cowards hiding behind lies, threats, and intimidation to dodge their responsibilities to workers and the public.” He praised the courage of Amazon Teamsters for "standing up to a corporate bully."
In June, the Teamsters and the Amazon Labor Union (ALU)-IBT Local 1 welcomed more than 5,500 Amazon workers at JFK8. These workers overwhelmingly supported strike action in light of the $2 trillion company’s illegal refusal to acknowledge their union.
Connor Spence, President of ALU-IBT Local 1, commented on the impact of the strike: “Amazon is jeopardizing the holidays for consumers so they can try to make an extra buck. Amazon workers are standing up to demand this corporation finally treat them with respect.”
Amazon, despite generating hundreds of billions in revenue this year, has been criticized for not providing fair wages to its drivers and warehouse staff. The working conditions are often dangerous, resulting in high injury rates compared to other industries.
JFK8 worker Valerie Strapoli expressed her enthusiasm: “I am thrilled to be part of this fight. Amazon has shoved us around for so long, but we have the momentum now.”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, founded in 1903, represents 1.3 million workers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. More information is available on Teamster.org. For updates, follow the Teamsters on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
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