The Teamsters union broadens their work stoppage against Amazon.
Amazon persists in claiming that the ongoing strike at several distribution centers, including one in New York City's Staten Island borough, doesn't impact customer deliveries significantly. This is due to the fact that the strike only affects a few of Amazon's numerous distribution centers. Amazon possesses several additional distribution centers situated nearby, such as a non-union one located directly opposite the facility in Staten Island.
"Our logistics network is designed to uphold our commitment to customers," Amazon stated on Friday. "We have faith in our system and prepare for contingencies to minimize potential operational disruptions or expenses."
The strike is part of the continuous attempts by unions, including the Teamsters, to organize workers at Amazon, the second-largest private sector employer in the US with over 740,000 employees across 1,000 facilities. With a net income of $39.2 billion in the first nine months of this year, Amazon is among the most profitable companies.
The Staten Island facility, as well as the seven other locations where Amazon employees are on strike, represent a minor portion of Amazon's vast network. However, the Staten Island distribution center, also known as JFK8, plays a significant role for Amazon. The union confirmed there are over 5,000 permanent hourly workers at this site, a claim Amazon did not confirm or deny.
The Staten Island facility became the first Amazon location to vote for unionization in April 2022 with 55% of participants supporting the union. Prior to this, employees had staged a walkout in March 2020 due to health concerns amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The union reported strong support among Staten Island workers on Friday.
Most of the current workers are temporary seasonal help, introduced to manage the holiday shopping surge. It's unclear how many of these temporary workers will abstain from work in these final days or if Amazon will operate with a reduced staff.
This strike is expected to last a predefined period and not be an open-ended strike, leading to a contract agreement, like the recent high-profile strikes at Boeing, Detroit automakers, and Hollywood studios. Amazon maintains that the union does not represent any of its workers and has no intention of negotiations.
Short-term strikes have become an increasingly popular tool employed by US unions in recent years to achieve notable results. In this case, the timing of the strike suggests the union's objective is to maximize attention for its organizing efforts and potentially inflict economic damages on Amazon.
A similar high-profile strike at Starbucks is also expected to last only a limited duration as the union aims to pressure the company to reach a labor agreement for workers at over 500 of its outlets.
Past disputes between Amazon and unions
Previously, all the Teamsters striking were drivers employed by outside contractors supplying Amazon's dedicated delivery service. However, Amazon now recognizes the employees at the Staten Island facility as its own employees, although it continues to contest their union affiliation.
In April 2022, Staten Island workers voted to be represented by the Amazon Labor Union, a new union, in a vote sanctioned by the National Labor Relations Board, which oversees labor relations in most US businesses. Despite this, Amazon continues to challenge the election result in court. In a separate vote, union members affiliated themselves with the Teamsters in a vote organized by the union but not overseen by the NLRB. Amazon also dismisses this vote.
"The Teamsters have been intentionally deceiving the public since last year," Amazon stated. "They do not represent Amazon employees or drivers, and this is yet another attempt to disseminate false information." "Our team is committed to serving customers and communities, and thanks to their efforts, we're not experiencing any impact on customer orders," the company added.
Amazon has filed 17 complaints against the Teamsters and the Amazon Labor Union for unfair labor practices, including allegations of intimidation. The Teamsters, ALU, and other unions have filed hundreds of complaints against Amazon itself.
Despite the ongoing strike at several Amazon distribution centers, including one in Staten Island, the company remains confident in its ability to maintain business operations. This is thanks to its extensive logistics network and multiple distribution centers situated nearby.
With a net income of over $39.2 billion in the first nine months of this year, Amazon holds a significant position in the business world. The ongoing strike, while affecting a few centers, represents a minor portion of Amazon's vast network.
