Amazon Teamsters Strike Enters Second Day with “Growing Momentum”
The cross-country strike by Amazon workers affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters entered its second day on Friday, with the union claiming that “momentum continues to mount” as workers seek “fair treatment” from the online retailer.
The strike, which began on Thursday morning, involved thousands of workers at facilities in New York City, Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco, and Illinois, although the union did not provide specific numbers. Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien is expected to join a picket line in California’s City of Industry on Friday.
Amazon, however, says the strike will not impact operations and claims that the majority of its employees and delivery drivers are not participating in the strike. The company claims that the strike is being attended by outside organizers, and that its workers are continuing to serve customers and communities as usual.
The strike, which Amazon has referred to as “the largest strike in history,” is taking place during the busiest shopping season of the year, less than a week before Christmas. The Teamsters, which represents nearly 9,000 Amazon workers across 20 bargaining units, is seeking to negotiate a new contract with the company.
The strike is the latest development in a long-standing labor dispute between Amazon and the Teamsters, which has been complicated by Amazon’s appeal of the National Labor Relations Board’s certification of the union. The union has accused Amazon of ignoring a Sunday deadline for contract negotiations to begin, while Amazon has accused the Teamsters of illegally coercing workers to join the union.
In a statement, O’Brien said, “The Amazon Teamsters movement grows bigger and stronger every day and will not be stopped.” The strike is expected to continue throughout the holiday season, with the potential to impact Amazon’s operations and customer orders.
