Thousands of Amazon workers will strike on Thursday, disrupting the retailer’s operations during the crucial holiday season. The walkout follows the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ claim that Amazon has failed to negotiate contracts for better wages and working conditions. Unionized workers from facilities in New York City, Skokie, Illinois, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Southern California will join the picket line. The Teamsters represent approximately 10,000 workers across 10 U.S. Amazon sites, with workers at seven of these facilities walking out.
Despite representing only 1% of Amazon’s workforce, the strike is a significant challenge to the company, particularly during its busiest period. The union had set a deadline for Amazon to begin negotiations but said the company ignored the request. The Teamsters have also set up picket lines at Amazon Fulfillment Centers across the country.
Amazon, which prefers direct communication with its workers, has yet to engage with union demands, despite ongoing unionization efforts, including at the Staten Island warehouse. Experts argue Amazon’s strategy of ignoring union demands has been effective, with little legal pressure forcing the company to negotiate.
Amazon has faced strikes in other countries, like Spain and Germany, over pay and working conditions. While the company announced a $2.1 billion investment to raise wages for U.S. employees earlier this year, disputes with unions over pay and conditions continue.
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