[Members of the Teamsters union went on strike at Amazon early Thursday, with plans to spread to seven facilities in four states coast to coast. Amazon claimed its operations would not be affected by the union’s actions, as the Teamsters claim to represent only 7,000 Amazon workers nationwide, accounting for less than 1% of the company’s US workforce.
The union is seeking better benefits and working conditions for its members, citing Amazon’s profits, which have soared in recent years. The union pointed out that Amazon reported a net income of $39.2 billion in the first nine months of this year, more than double that of the same period in 2023, with revenue of $450.2 billion.
The Teamsters claim that under a rule announced by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), they can be considered to have joint employers – both the delivery service and Amazon. However, Amazon and other business groups are challenging that rule. The company claimed that the Teamsters do not represent any Amazon employees and that the strike is a PR play and illegal.
The union claimed that many of its members do not have enough pay or hours to get by in today’s economy and that Amazon’s refusal to negotiate with the union is causing problems. The strike is expected to last more than one day, and the union is hoping to apply maximum pressure on Amazon by striking during the holiday season.
It’s unclear how long the strike will last, as shorter strikes have become more popular in recent years, with occasional great success. The union did not announce a strike at an Amazon facility in Staten Island, despite previously authorizing one. The other locations set to be struck later Thursday morning include facilities in Atlanta, San Francisco, Victorville, and the City of Industry, California.
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