Amazon staff throughout US to go on strike this week, days earlier than Christmas rush – Firstpost

Hundreds of Amazon staff throughout the USA are making ready to go on strike beginning Thursday, simply days earlier than the vital vacation purchasing season. The strike comes amid escalating tensions between Amazon and its workers over the corporate’s refusal to barter contracts with unionised staff.

Union locals have been organising picket strains and different actions outdoors Amazon services nationwide. The push for strikes follows a missed deadline on 15 December, when Amazon was anticipated to conform to talks with staff at its JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, the primary Amazon warehouse within the US to unionise after a historic 2022 election.

Union requires motion nationwide

Union locals, together with the Teamsters, are rallying help for Amazon staff. In Detroit, Teamsters native 299 had introduced deliberate strike shifts for 19 and 20 December, urging solidarity amongst union members. Although the announcement was later deleted, the momentum has continued.

In Portland, Oregon, one other Teamsters chapter issued flyers saying picket strains on Thursday and Friday, accusing Amazon of refusing to recognise or negotiate with the union. Employees at a number of Amazon services, together with places in Staten Island, Queens, southern California, and Skokie, Illinois, have already voted to authorise strikes. In the meantime, staff at two services close to Atlanta have additionally signalled the potential of becoming a member of the walkouts.

Rising frustration over Amazon’s labour practices

Sean O’Brien, the overall president of the Teamsters, criticised Amazon for its therapy of staff, describing the corporate’s executives as “company elitists” who prioritise income over worker well-being. He accused Amazon of exploiting its workforce and avoiding accountability as an employer, calling for change in a “rigged system.”

O’Brien warned that if staff are compelled to strike, Amazon would finally hurt itself. These remarks come as workers have more and more highlighted considerations about office accidents, alleged abuses, and the corporate’s failure to have interaction with union calls for.

Amazon pushes again

Amazon has strongly denied the accusations, with spokesperson Eileen Arms accusing the Teamsters of utilizing unlawful techniques reminiscent of intimidation and coercion to strain workers and third-party drivers to hitch the union. The corporate claims these actions are the topic of ongoing unfair labour observe prices towards the union.

Because the strike looms, the standoff underscores the deepening divide between Amazon’s management and its workforce. With the vacation rush quick approaching, the strike might have important penalties for each workers and shoppers, doubtlessly disrupting deliveries in the course of the busiest purchasing interval of the yr.