Teamsters President Sean O'Brien is calling on Amazon to “negotiate” better wages for union members and days before the end of the year's busy season.
Amazon workers at a warehouse in Staten Island, New York, will join thousands of disgruntled workers Friday as a strike against the retail giant enters its second day.
Teamsters said: release “Momentum continues to build” as workers demand “fair treatment” from online retailers.
“The Amazon Teamsters movement is growing bigger and stronger every day, and it will not stop,” the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said in a statement posted on social media.
Teamsters Union launches historic national strike against Amazon: 'We'll pay a price'
Thousands of Amazon workers took part at the JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island to protest the company's refusal to “negotiate with employees who choose to unionize with the Teamsters.”
The strike comes as the Teamsters claim Amazon ignored the union's Dec. 15 deadline to negotiate a new contract for higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions. This was done in response to this.
Amazon workers organized by the Teamsters went on strike in Skokie, Illinois, during the 2024 holiday season. (Fox News/Fox News)
Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien encouraged Modern Warehouses to join the strike, saying it takes “courage” to stand up to big business.
Teamsters union launches new division to support Amazon workers: 'Protecting workers from unrestricted exploitation'
“Amazon executives are cowards who hide behind lies, threats, and intimidation to avoid their responsibilities to workers and the public,” he said. “It takes real courage to stand up to corporate bullies, and the Amazon Teamsters are doing just that.”
Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien said Thursday that “Santa would be disgusted” by Amazon's actions on “Kabuto: Coast to Coast.” (FOX Business/Getty Images/Photo illustration/FOXBusiness)
The Staten Island workers join thousands of other workers at seven sites in Skokie, Illinois. New York City; Atlanta; San Francisco; and Southern California.
The Teamsters say their union represents about 10,000 workers at Amazon's 10 U.S. locations, but the company does not allow workers to join the union.
Brand name of this article:
Amazon said the Teamsters “intentionally” [misleading] Because they do not represent Amazon employees or drivers, company spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said in a previous statement to Fox Business.
Amazon workers plan strike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday
“For more than a year, the Teamsters have intentionally misled the public by claiming they represent 'thousands of Amazon employees and drivers,' which they do not. This is another attempt to push a false narrative,” Nantel said. “The truth is that the Teamsters were actively trying to intimidate, intimidate, and coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers into participating, which is illegal and requires multiple actions against the union. The company is the subject of pending unfair labor practice charges.
Amazon Teamsters Attack December 19, 2024. (FOX 5 New York/Fox News)
Nantel also said the company “does not anticipate any impact on our operations.”
Teamsters spokeswoman Kara Deniz responded to Amazon's statement, saying the company is “gaslighting the American people with a false narrative.”
“The truth is that more than 20 bargaining units representing about 9,000 employees have successfully organized because the company has exploited and abused its workers for years. And these workers are fed up. and fighting back,” Deniz said.
CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO
“No matter how big Amazon's corporate PR machine is, it can't fool the American public into thinking that drivers who deliver Amazon packages in Amazon-branded vans don't actually work for Amazon,” Deniz said. added. “No one believes this nonsense. Amazon needs to stop avoiding its legal obligations to these workers and come to the negotiating table now.”
FOX Business' Pilar Arias and Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
