Warehouse workers in several major cities, including New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco, participated in what Teamsters officials described as the largest Amazon strike to date; however, it is not anticipated to substantially impact the company's extensive shipping operations.
As the second-largest private employer globally, following Walmart, Amazon has frequently faced scrutiny from unions that argue the company's focus on rapid speed and efficiency can result in workplace injuries. In response, Amazon asserts that it offers competitive wages and employs automation to alleviate repetitive stress.
On Thursday afternoon, Amazon's stock rose by 1.8%.
Workers expressed to Reuters their desire for Amazon to engage in negotiations and acknowledge the health pressures stemming from their demanding roles. Nonetheless, the striking workers represent only a fraction of the over 800,000 individuals employed by Amazon at more than 600 fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and same-day facilities across the U.S.
“Amazon claims there is no quota system, yet there is a strict quota that pushes employees beyond their physical limits in an unnatural manner,” stated Jordan Soreff, 63, who delivers approximately 300 packages daily in the New York City boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn. “The more you accomplish, the more is expected of you.”
Soreff was among around 100 individuals gathered outside the Amazon facility in Queens, which included many Teamsters members not directly employed by Amazon. Despite the protest, operations at the facility continued, with other drivers entering and exiting under police supervision to prevent disruptions.
An Amazon spokesperson accused the Teamsters of "intentionally misleading the public" and claimed they have "threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce" employees and third-party drivers to join their cause.
Amazon operates numerous facilities across various U.S. metropolitan regions, providing a buffer against potential disruptions. The company has indicated that it does not anticipate any impact on its operations during one of the peak shopping seasons. In 2023, Amazon reported sales exceeding 500 million items from independent sellers during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Morningstar analyst Dan Romanoff commented, "While there may be some isolated delays, I do not foresee any significant impact."
Earlier this year, Amazon committed to a $2.1 billion investment aimed at increasing wages for its fulfillment and transportation staff in the United States, raising base pay by at least $1.50 to approximately $22 per hour.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters had set a deadline of December 15 for Amazon to initiate negotiations, but that date passed without any discussions. The Teamsters claim to represent 10,000 workers across 10 Amazon sites, a claim that Amazon contests, stating there have been no elections or bargaining orders for those locations.
UNION RESISTANCE
Labor movements have gained momentum across service sectors following significant concessions won by workers in the automotive, aerospace, and rail industries. U.S. port workers may strike in mid-January if contract negotiations remain unresolved.
A union representing over 10,000 Starbucks baristas authorized a potential strike earlier this week, following a series of strikes that affected companies like Boeing earlier this year.
Amazon has yet to acknowledge the first facility to successfully vote for unionization in Staten Island and has lodged objections with the National Labor Relations Board regarding that 2022 vote. In a federal lawsuit filed in September, Amazon challenged the constitutionality of the NLRB, which was established during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
In San Francisco, at least three dozen protesters gathered at an Amazon facility, with a Teamsters organizer estimating that between 15 and 20 of them were warehouse employees.
Ms. Janeé Roberts, a San Francisco resident with two years of service at the facility, cited workplace safety as her primary reason for supporting the strike. She noted the observable exhaustion and physical strain experienced by her colleagues, compounded by inadequate benefits for part-time employees.
Amazon, which owns the grocery chain Whole Foods, is expected to encounter additional union activities in the coming months. In November, workers at a Whole Foods in Philadelphia initiated a petition for a union election, marking the first such effort since Amazon's acquisition of the company in 2017.
In a show of solidarity with the Teamsters, Germany's United Services Union has also announced strikes at Amazon warehouses nationwide, set to begin on Thursday.