The International Brotherhood of Teamsters union announced Amazon workers would strike starting Thursday in five confirmed states ahead of the Christmas holiday, citing the company’s absence from the bargaining negotiations as a reason.
“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 O’Brien, labeling the company’s executives as “greedy.”
Workers are set to strike at locations in New York City, Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco and Skokie, Ill.
The Teamsters say Amazon workers at other facilities are prepared to join them. However, the online retailer company created by billionaire Jeff Bezos has consistently denied wrongdoing amid complaints supported by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
It says the Teamsters has repeatedly misled the public with its statements.
“For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public – claiming that they represent ‘thousands of Amazon employees and drivers’. They don’t, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement.
The company did not immediately respond to The Hill’s requests for comment.
Amazon challenged the legality of the NLRB complaint which arose from workers in California who were employed by a separate contractor.
