NEW YORK, USA – Amazon drivers in four US states have launched a strike less than a week before Christmas, raising concerns about potential delivery disruptions.
However, Amazon insists the industrial action will not affect holiday shipments, asserting that the striking workers are not direct employees of the company.
The Teamsters union, representing the striking drivers, announced the walkout at eight facilities across the United States.
While the union claims to represent 7,000 Amazon workers nationwide, this figure accounts for less than 1% of Amazon’s massive US workforce.
Workers’ Grievances
Striking drivers, many of whom deliver exclusively for Amazon while wearing company uniforms and operating Amazon-branded vans, say they are fighting for improved wages and benefits.
“If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed. We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it,” said Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Outside Amazon’s Skokie, Illinois, facility, driver Luke Cianciotto shared his frustrations. “Many of us don’t have any Christmas presents under the tree this year.
The wages and hours we get working for Amazon simply aren’t enough to get by in today’s economy,” he said.
Amazon’s Position
Amazon has denied that the strikers are its employees, maintaining that they are employed by third-party contractors.
The company also questioned the legality of the Teamsters’ actions, stating that the union does not represent its workforce.
“There are a lot of nuances here, but I want to be clear: the Teamsters don’t represent any Amazon employees despite their claims to the contrary,” said Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson.
“This entire narrative is a PR play, and the Teamsters’ conduct this past year, and this week, is illegal.”
Amazon further stated that the strike is unlikely to impact deliveries, as its extensive logistics network allows shipments to be rerouted.
Industry expert Satish Jindel compared the disruption to the effects of a regional ice storm, suggesting minor delays for some packages.
“They will have the ability to ship product from other locations,” Jindel said.
“Some packages that might have taken one day to be delivered will now take two. Some that might have taken two days will take three. But it won’t be that many.”
Broader Labour Implications
The strike has reignited discussions about the status of drivers who deliver Amazon packages under third-party contracts.
The Teamsters argue that Amazon is a joint employer, a claim bolstered by National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) rules that Amazon has challenged in court.
“Third-party contractors don’t exist without Amazon,” said Cianciotto. “This is just a way for Amazon to avoid responsibility.”
Ash’shura Brooks, another striking driver, criticised the company’s stance.
“It’s heartbreaking for Amazon to tell us we’re not Amazon drivers when we wear Amazon vests and deliver in Amazon vans.”
The Union’s Strategy
The Teamsters organised picket lines at the affected facilities and extended protests to 199 other Amazon sites.
While no work stoppages occurred at those additional locations, the union aims to apply pressure on Amazon during the peak holiday season.
Amazon has labelled the expanded protests as attempts to intimidate workers.
“What you see here are almost entirely outsiders – not Amazon employees or partners – and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters,” said Eileen Hand, another Amazon spokesperson.
A Larger Labour Movement
The dispute reflects a broader trend of labour action across the United States.
Shorter, targeted strikes, such as the successful 2023 walkout at healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente, have become more common, contrasting with the traditional open-ended strikes seen in industries like automotive manufacturing and entertainment.
The Teamsters’ ability to organise Amazon workers, however, remains a contentious issue.
Amazon continues to contest the results of a 2022 vote by the Amazon Labour Union (ALU) at its Staten Island facility, the only location where the NLRB has certified union representation.
Despite authorising a strike, workers at the Staten Island warehouse have not yet joined the current action.
Looking Ahead
With the holiday season underway, it remains unclear how long the strike will last or whether it will achieve the desired impact.
For now, Amazon customers are unlikely to experience significant delays, but tensions between the company and organised labour show no signs of easing.
As Cianciotto noted, “The bad feelings here could continue long after the strike ends.”
