Teamsters to Launch Historic Nationwide Strike Against Amazon

Amazon Faces Major Nationwide Strike Led by Teamsters

The Teamsters are set to initiate an unprecedented strike against Amazon, a $2 trillion entity, starting on Thursday at 6 a.m. EST. This significant action arises from Amazon's continuous refusal to engage in negotiations with its workforce who have organized under the Teamsters union.

“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,” stated Sean M. O’Brien, General President of the Teamsters. The strike is a result of Amazon's lack of responsiveness to its employees' demands for negotiation and fair treatment.

Pickets are planned at key Amazon locations including DBK4 in New York City, DGT8 in Atlanta, several sites in Southern California, DCK6 in San Francisco, and DIL7 in Skokie, Ill. Additional Amazon Teamsters nationwide are prepared to support these efforts by joining the strike. Workers without collective bargaining agreements also hold the right to participate by not working.

Leah Pensler, a warehouse worker from San Francisco, emphasized the historic nature of this strike, describing it as a pivotal moment in the fight against extensive anti-union tactics. “We are fighting against a vicious union-busting campaign, and we are going to win,” she affirmed.

Despite Amazon being ranked as the second-largest corporation on the Fortune 500 list and valued at over $2 trillion, employees argue they are not paid adequately. Gabriel Irizarry, a driver from Skokie, Ill., expressed discontent over the disparity between Amazon's public promises and its actual treatment of workers. “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.”

Close to 10,000 Amazon workers have aligned with the Teamsters, advocating for increased wages, improved benefits, and secure working conditions. “I’ve seen the Teamsters win big battles,” said Dia Ortiz, a worker from New York. “We’re ready to do what it takes to win this one.”

Established in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million workers across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. More details can be found at Teamster.org. Follow the union updates on Twitter @Teamsters and Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.