Amazon warehouse workers in cities like New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco staged strikes during the holiday rush, protesting unsafe conditions and demanding union recognition. The Teamsters called it the largest strike against Amazon, though disruptions were limited due to the company’s vast network.
Workers cite high quotas, physical strain, and inadequate benefits. Despite the protests, Amazon maintains operations remain unaffected and disputes union claims. Earlier this year, Amazon raised wages to around $22 an hour.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel told FingerLakes1.com the “strike” is an intentional effort from the Teamsters to mislead the public:
“For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public – claiming that they represent ‘thousands of Amazon employees and drivers’. They don’t, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative. The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union.“
“What you’re seeing at these sites are almost entirely outsiders—not Amazon employees or partners—and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters. The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous. We appreciate all our team’s great work to serve their customers and communities, and thanks to them, we’re not seeing any impact to customers’ orders.”
Labor movements in the service industry are increasing, with potential strikes looming across other sectors. International solidarity efforts, including strikes in Germany, highlight growing pressure on labor practices.
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