Amazon workers across America are walking off the job today to take part in the ‘largest’ strike against the online retailer amid the last minute Christmas shopping rush.
Warehouse workers at seven facilities – including in New York, Atlanta and San Francisco – are participating in the walkout, which aims to pressure the retailer into contract talks with their union.
‘If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed,’ Sean O’Brien, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said Wednesday evening.
‘We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it. This strike is on them.’
The union gave Amazon a December 15 deadline to begin negotiations and warehouse workers had recently voted to authorize a strike.
Amazon said it does not expect any impact to its operations, but shoppers have still taken to social media detailing concerns over the arrival of their holiday packages.
Some have warned that it’s ‘time to panic’, alleging that the industrial action could cause a ‘huge’ disruption to orders and deliveries.
Meanwhile, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez were spotted strolling into Mar-a-Lago last night to enjoy a dinner with President-elect Donald Trump.
Unionized Amazon workers at seven warehouse facilities across America have joined the picket line today to seek contracts guaranteeing better wages and work conditions. Pictured are Amazon workers striking in New York City today
The union gave Amazon a December 15 deadline to begin negotiations and warehouse workers had recently voted to authorize a strike. Teamsters members are pictured in NYC
Teamsters local unions are also putting up picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide. Pictured are New York City area Amazon workers on strike today
Unionized workers at seven warehouse facilities have joined the picket line today to seek contracts guaranteeing better wages and work conditions.
Teamsters local unions are also putting up picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide, the union said in a statement yesterday.
As workers take to the picket line, shoppers are voicing their holiday shopping fears.
‘Oh hell no Amazon on strike !! This not the time yall,’ an X user tweeted.
Another questioned: ‘It’s six days until Christmas and Amazon is on strike?!?’
‘It’s time to Panic for all those of us that haven’t started shopping yet and Amazon is going on strike today in my area. Christmas shopping commence,’ one added.
‘Oooooo heck Amazon workers in US gone on strike today. That will put a huge spanner in da works!!! All those Crispmouse pressies!!!!’ echoed another.
Amazon said it does not expect any impact to its operations, but shoppers have still taken to social media detailing concerns over the arrival of their holiday packages
The strike is a challenge to Amazon’s operations as it races to fulfill orders during its busiest season of the year, although union-represented facilities represent only about 1 per cent of Amazon’s hourly workforce.
Areas such as New York City have multiple warehouses and smaller delivery depots, which could help Amazon blunt any potential strike impact.
The Teamsters union has said it represents about 10,000 workers at 10 of the company’s US facilities.
Amazon has criticized the strike, with a company spokesperson saying the union has ‘intentionally misled the public’.
The Teamsters union had for more than a year claimed to represent thousands of Amazon employees and drivers, but spokesperson Kelly Nantel said: ‘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.’
Teamsters members march through the streets of New York holding picket signs in demand of better working conditions
Amazon warehouse workers hold signs declaring the company is ‘unfair’ as they strike in NYC
Amazon warehouse workers assembled in NYC today after walking out in the largest strike against the online retailer in history
Observers have said Amazon was unlikely to come to the table to bargain as that could open the door to more union actions. Pictured are Teamsters members demonstrating in NYC today
Observers have said Amazon was unlikely to come to the table to bargain as that could open the door to more union actions.
It employs more than 1.5million people globally and has said it prefers direct relationships with workers.
The retailer’s shares were trading slightly higher in premarket hours, a sign that investors do not expect a big disruption from the strike.
Earlier this year, the company announced a $2.1billion investment to raise pay for fulfillment and transportation employees in the US, increasing base wages for employees by at least $1.50 to around $22 per hour, a roughly 7 per cent increase.
Meanwhile, Amazon boss Bezos was at Trump’s Florida mansion with his fiancée on Wednesday night for their first meal with the President-elect after his recent election win.
Footage shared on social platform X shows the couple holding hands and walking alongside Trump as they greet other guests.
The tech mogul wore a navy blue suit and white shirt, while his partner Sanchez put on a leggy display in a little black dress and stiletto heels.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos was spotted strolling into Mar-a-Lago Wednesday evening to enjoy a dinner with President-elect Donald Trump
The Amazon founder arrived with his fiancee Lauren Sanchez
Trump at Mar-a-Lago last night when he hosted a dinner with billionaire Jeff Bezos
Bezos is one of the latest tech giants who has rubbed shoulders with Trump ahead of his presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Bezos said he planned on donating $1 million to the incoming president’s inaugural fund
Trump and Bezos’ relationship has been rocky throughout the election, but appeared to improve after Bezos-owned newspaper, the Washington Post, refused to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election.
This move broke tradition for the publication that has historically backed the Democratic party.
Bezos’ visit to Mar-a-Lago comes after Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg travelled to Florida last month to dine with Trump at his compound.
