The walkout, spanning seven facilities in four states, came during the busiest delivery time in a year as Americans complete their Christmas shopping.
At a San Francisco distribution center, about 50 workers formed a picket line early Thursday morning. Dressed in high-visibility yellow vests, they carried signs reading “Amazon: obey the law” and “Amazon is unfair” and chanted slogans, demanding Amazon negotiate with their union â” the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Among them was Leah Penslar, who wore an “Amazon Teamsters” beanie.
“The company needs to come to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract with us,” Penslar told NBC.
The strike occurred less than a week before Christmas when delivery networks faced their peak demands. Workers have taken action at delivery hubs including San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta and Skokie, with the union reporting picketing activities at hundreds more Amazon facilities nationwide.
“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 M. O’Brien in a statement posted on social media.
The situation developed after Amazon did not meet the union’s Dec. 15 deadline to begin negotiations. According to the union, nearly 10,000 Amazon workers joined its movement, demanding higher wages, better benefits, and improved workplace safety conditions.
However, Amazon disputed these claims.
“For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally misled the public â” claiming that they represent thousands of Amazon employees and drivers,” said an Amazon spokesperson in a statement, “They don’t, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative.”
The company also said the union “threatened, intimidated and attempted to coerce” employees and third-party drivers to join their cause.
Despite the protests, Amazon maintained that the strike would have minimal impact on holiday deliveries. The striking workers represent a small portion of the retailing giant’s about 1.1 million U.S. employees.
While there may not be “a material impact” on deliveries, “it is possible there may be some isolated incidents of delay,” said Dan Romanoff, an analyst with the investment research firm Morningstar.
Delivery operations showed signs of slowdown in New York City, while operations in other cities remained largely unaffected. The company’s multiple locations in metropolitan areas serve as a buffer against potential disruptions.
Industry observers noted that Amazon’s extensive logistics network, built over years of rapid expansion, provides significant resilience against localized disruptions.
The strike reflected ongoing discussions about Amazon’s business practices and workers’ rights.
As the second-largest U.S. private employer after Walmart, Amazon often faces questions from unions who say the company’s focus on speed and efficiency can lead to workplace injuries.
The company maintains that it provides industry-leading wages and implements automation designed to reduce repetitive stress.
The company recently announced an investment of 2.2 billion U.S. dollars to raise the wages for employees at its fulfilment and transportation network. But union representatives said such measures did not fully address their concern about workplace conditions and job security.
The strike occurred less than a week before Christmas when delivery networks faced their peak demands.
