The Teamsters went on strike at seven Amazon facilities, strategically timed less than a week before Christmas, a critical period for e-commerce, FOX 5 NY reported.
Thousands of Amazon employees are organized below the Teamsters union went on strike at 6 a.m. Thursday after the company's "repeated refusal to abide by the law and bargain."
Amazon Teamsters at seven facilities in Skokie, Illinois; New York City, Atlanta, San Francisco and Southern California are participating in the "largest strike" against a trillion-dollar company in American history, the union said in a news release. Workers at other facilities are ready to join them.
Although the Teamsters says it represents about 10,000 people across ten Amazon facilities in the US, the company does not recognize workers' affiliation with the union.
Amazon says the Teamsters union is "intentionally (misleading) the public" because they do not represent Amazon workers and drivers, company spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said in a statement to Fox Business.
AMAZON WORKERS PLAN STRIKE BETWEEN BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY
Amazon workers affiliated with the Teamsters union walked off the job at seven facilities across the country in a historic strike against the trillion-dollar company. (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images/Getty Images)
"For over a year now, the Teamsters have continued to deliberately mislead the public - claiming that they represent 'thousands of Amazon workers and drivers'. They don't, and this is yet another attempt to push a false narrative," Nantel said. "The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers into joining them, which is illegal and the subject of several pending unfair labor practice charges against the union."
Nantel also said the company "doesn't expect anything impact on our operations."
Amazon warehouse workers and drivers without a collective bargaining agreement can legally honor picket lines by withholding their labor, the Teamsters union said. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri / Reuters Photo)
Teamsters spokeswoman Kara Deniz responded to Amazon's statement, saying the company is "dazzling the American public with their false narrative."
"Actually, more than 20 bargaining units, representing nearly 9,000 workers have been successfully organized because for years the company has exploited and abused workers, and these workers are fed up and fighting back," said Deniz.
"No matter how big Amazon's corporate PR machine is, they can't fool the American public into believing drivers who deliver Amazon packages in Amazon-branded vans don't actually work for Amazon," Deniz continued. "No one believes this nonsense. Amazon needs to stop avoiding their legal obligations to these workers and go to the bargaining table now."
Amazon State Island warehouse sees Amazon Teamsters strike on Dec 19, 2024. (FOX 5 New York / Fox News)
The strike comes after the Teamsters said Amazon ignored a Dec. 15 union deadline to negotiate a new contract for higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions.
"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," said Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien in release.
He continued: "These greedy executives had every opportunity to show decency and respect to the people who made their obscene profits possible. Instead, they pushed workers to the limit and now they are paying the price. This strike is on them."
Amazon Fulfillment Center across the country will have major picket lines set up by local unions, the Teamsters say, and warehouse workers and drivers without a collective bargaining agreement can legally honor them by withholding their labor.
"Amazon is one of the largest and richest companies in the world," said Gabriel Irizarry, a driver at DIL7 in Skokie, Illinois. "They talk a big game about taking care of their workers, but when it comes down to it, Amazon doesn't respect us and our right to negotiate for better working conditions and wages. We can't afford to pay our bills."
Amazon says team members are already offered competitive wages, immediate health benefits, 401k match and career growth opportunities, adding that the company's average base wage was raised to $22 an hour in September.
Teamsters General Manager Sean O'Brien said Amazon shoppers can blame the company's "greed" if holiday shopping is affected by the strike set to begin Thursday morning. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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In an X broadcast Wednesday night, the Teamsters said its Amazon workers have run out of patience for the company and they are gearing up to win the contract they deserve.
"What we're doing is historic," said Leah Pensler, a warehouse worker at DCK6 in San Francisco. "We are fighting against a vicious union-busting campaign, and we will win."
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