On Thursday 19 Dec 2024, Amazon workers at seven U.S. facilities went on strike, the largest labor action against the company so far. The workers, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, are pressing Amazon to engage in contract negotiations, aiming to secure better conditions for their workforce. The strike involves warehouse employees in cities such as New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco. The Teamsters union represents around 10,000 workers across 10 Amazon facilities.
The union had set a December 15 deadline for Amazon to begin talks, but the company did not respond, prompting the strike. Despite this action, Amazon has downplayed the impact, asserting that operations will not be significantly affected during the crucial holiday shopping season. Amazon has a global workforce of over 1.5 million people, and unions represent just about 1% of the workforce in the U.S.
The strike’s timing is especially notable as it coincides with one of Amazon’s busiest periods of the year. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien criticized Amazon for failing to meet the union’s deadline and blamed the company for any delays in package deliveries during the holidays. Meanwhile, Amazon responded by accusing the Teamsters of misleading the public and coercing workers to join the strike.
Despite the walkout, Amazon’s stock price rose slightly in premarket trading, indicating that investors do not expect significant disruption. The company has previously resisted unionization efforts, opting for direct relationships with employees, and has used legal channels to challenge union votes and NLRB rulings.
Earlier this year, Amazon made a $2.1 billion investment to raise pay for its fulfillment and transportation employees in the U.S., increasing base wages by at least $1.50 to $22 per hour. However, this move has not appeased unions seeking broader labor protections.
Vinod Ram has been in Software Industry since 2006 and has experience of over 16 years in Software Development & Project Management domain specialised majorly in LAMP stack & Open Source Technology, building enterprise level Web based Application, Large Database driven and huge traffic Websites and Project Management.
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