Thousands of Amazon workers will be striking on Thursday, barely a week before Christmas. They want better wages and working conditions, the reasons for their actions, as reported by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who have been organizing this movement across facilities around the country: New York City, Atlanta, San Francisco, Southern California, and Skokie, Illinois.
According to union leaders, this strike is the largest against it in U.S. history, pointing to frustration that the retailer has refused to bargain.
Though representing nearly 10,000 workers at 10 facilities in the country, Teamsters are still less than 1% of Amazon’s workforce in the United States.
Amazon Executives Prioritize Profits Over People, General President of Teamsters Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement. “Workers deserve fair treatment and livable wages, especially during the holidays.
The strike comes after a deadline for negotiations passed without any engagement from Amazon. At various locations, workers approved the strike clear manifestation of growing resentment toward the terms at the e-commerce firm, which has won popular acclaim for its efficiency-obsessed culture.
Amazon, on the other hand, denies this claim by the union. According to a spokesperson, “The Teamsters have continued to mislead the public, falsely claiming to represent thousands of Amazon employees. These actions are part of an ongoing effort to coerce and intimidate workers, which is both false and illegal.”.
The company justified its labor practices by citing recent wage increases, including a $2.1 billion investment in fulfillment and transportation employee pay this year. Amazon says its base wage now averages $22 per hour, a 20% increase since 2018.
Even though the outcome of the strike is uncertain, this move by the union will put focus on an ever-growing movement for workers’ rights at Amazon. Both sides are under pressure amid the holidays as shipments pick up steam.
The global company and a prominent employer have raised many questions about issues surrounding corporate accountability and the worker representation of modern industries due to the labor challenges the one-day strike has presented.
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