Hundreds of Teamsters union members went on strike in opposition to Amazon early Thursday morning at seven services in 4 states throughout the nation. This, in fact, is all taking place at a deeply crucial time of 12 months for the web retail large: the vacation season.
The strike started at 6 a.m. on December 19 at services in New York Metropolis, Atlanta, SoCal, San Francisco and Illinois, as practically 10,000 Amazon staff walked off the job, based on an announcement from the Teamsters. Along with that, native unions will put up main picket traces at a whole bunch of Amazon Success Facilities nationwide. This will likely find yourself being an actual mess, however Amazon isn’t too fearful. The corporate informed CNN that the putting Teamsters account for lower than 1 % of its U.S. workforce.
Within the launch, the union stated its motion was the “largest strike in opposition to Amazon in U.S. historical past.” It added that this motion comes after Amazon refused to cut price with staff who organized with the union. It additionally stated to not blame union members in case your packages are delayed.
“In case your bundle is delayed in the course of the holidays, you may blame Amazon’s insatiable greed. We gave Amazon a transparent deadline to return to the desk and do proper by our members. They ignored it. These grasping executives had each likelihood to indicate decency and respect for the individuals who make their obscene income doable. As an alternative, they’ve pushed staff to the restrict and now they’re paying the worth,” Sean M. O’Brien, Teamsters Basic President, stated in a statement. “This strike is on them.”
Shockingly, Amazon is pointing the finger on the Teamsters for this dispute. Right here’s its assertion to ABC Information:
“For greater than a 12 months now, the Teamsters have continued to deliberately mislead the general public – claiming that they characterize ‘hundreds of Amazon staff and drivers’. They don’t, and that is one other try and push a false narrative,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated. “The reality is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and tried to coerce Amazon staff and third-party drivers to hitch them, which is against the law and is the topic of a number of pending unfair labor apply costs in opposition to the union.”
The spokesperson stated the corporate has elevated the beginning minimal wage for staff in success facilities and transportation staff by 20% and in September elevated common base wage to $22 per hour.
That is the most recent within the struggle between Amazon and unions. Again in 2022, Amazon staff at a facility in Staten Island voted to unionize, making them the primary group at Amazon to take action. Since then, staff there say the corporate has refused to acknowledge the union and negotiate a contract. That is even though the Nationwide Labor Relations Board formally licensed the union representing staff on the facility. Amazon has appealed that ruling.
Anyway, please strive to consider this in case your Christmas reward is a bit late this 12 months: is it value it to have gadgets present up at your door instantly if the oldsters bringing it to you aren’t being handled pretty? I personally don’t suppose so, and I hope you’re feeling the identical method.
