The Teamsters will launch the largest strike in Amazon’s history on Thursday, December 19, beginning at 6 a.m. EST, targeting facilities nationwide in a move that could disrupt holiday deliveries just days before Christmas. This unprecedented labor action highlights growing frustration with the $2 trillion corporation, as workers demand union recognition, fair pay, and safer working conditions.
The strike will affect key Amazon facilities, including New York City, Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco, and Illinois. Teamsters local unions will also establish picket lines at hundreds of fulfillment centers across the country. Non-union warehouse workers and drivers have been encouraged to honor the picket lines, which could significantly delay package deliveries during Amazon’s busiest season.
“If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed,” said Sean M. O’Brien, General President of the Teamsters. He emphasized that Amazon’s refusal to negotiate left workers with no choice but to strike. The timing is deliberate, aiming to pressure the company at a critical moment when it is most vulnerable to operational disruption.
The strike highlights long-standing issues with Amazon’s labor practices. NELP analyzed publicly available Census Bureau data for five California counties where Amazon fulfillment centers have had a significant presence in the warehouse sector the average annual turnover for warehouse workers in counties where Amazon has fulfillment centers exceeded 100 percent. This high turnover rate has led some Amazon executives to worry about running out of hirable workers in the U.S., further illustrating the challenges of retaining a satisfied workforce.
Amazon’s hiring spree during the pandemic, including offers of $1,000 signing bonuses, addressed short-term labor shortages but failed to resolve deeper worker dissatisfaction. Employees have consistently raised concerns about inadequate pay, physically demanding conditions, and the company’s resistance to unionization efforts. In 2022, over 150 workers at the Amazon Air Hub in San Bernardino, California, staged a walkout demanding higher wages and better conditions, foreshadowing the current nationwide strike.
Worker frustrations have also been exacerbated by Amazon’s efforts to limit labor organizing. In 2022, it was reported that the company proposed an internal worker chat app that would ban terms such as “union,” “restrooms,” and “pay raise,” drawing widespread criticism for attempting to suppress workplace discussions. Amazon has also refused to negotiate with workers at its unionized Staten Island facility, intensifying tensions with its workforce.
These domestic actions echo similar labor unrest globally. In 2019, workers at Amazon facilities in Germany and Spain staged a strike during Black Friday, protesting low pay and extreme workplace pressure. The grievances voiced by these workers align with the demands of Amazon employees worldwide, highlighting a consistent pattern of discontent with the company’s labor policies.
The Teamsters strike is poised to have a significant impact on Amazon’s operations. By targeting fulfillment centers during the holiday rush, workers aim to compel the company to address their demands. This disruption, which could delay thousands of Christmas packages, underscores the stakes of the conflict and the workers’ determination to achieve change.
As the strike unfolds, it serves as a pivotal moment for Amazon and its workforce. The outcome could not only shape the future of Amazon’s labor policies but also set a precedent for worker rights across industries. With Christmas packages hanging in the balance, the pressure is on for both sides to find a resolution—or face the consequences of a disrupted holiday season.
