Amazon warehouse workers in New York are poised to launch a historic strike, following years of stalled negotiations after their groundbreaking 2022 unionization.
Workers have set a deadline of Sunday, December 15, for the company to begin bargaining, marking a critical moment in U.S. labor history, The Guardian reported.
In March 2022, employees at Amazon's JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island became the first in the U.S. to successfully unionize.
However, Amazon has since refused to negotiate a union contract, filing legal objections and challenging the National Labor Relations Board's authority.
Despite these setbacks, the union, now backed by the Teamsters, remains determined to secure better pay and workplace protections.
On Friday, thousands of Amazon employees voted to authorize a strike if the company does not engage in good-faith negotiations.
"The Teamsters are done asking nicely for Amazon to stop breaking the law. Amazon must commit to come to the table and bargain a Teamsters contract with its workers – or face the consequences of its inaction," Sean O'Brien, Teamsters general president, said.
The union is demanding a $30 hourly wage and improved safety measures. This strike authorization includes not only JFK8 but also another warehouse in Queens.
The workers' demands come during Amazon's busy holiday season, a time critical to its bottom line, with $170 billion reported in Q4 sales last year.
Amazon, meanwhile, denies union allegations and accuses the Teamsters of coercive practices.
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