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| Amazon faces US strike threat ahead of Christmas | Amazon faces US strike threat ahead of Christmas |
| (1 day later) | |
| The walkout could affect several facilities across the US during the busy holiday season | The walkout could affect several facilities across the US during the busy holiday season |
| Amazon workers in the US could go on strike ahead of Christmas, after members of the Teamsters union voted to support industrial action. | Amazon workers in the US could go on strike ahead of Christmas, after members of the Teamsters union voted to support industrial action. |
| The workers say the online retail giant has refused to recognise their union and ignored a 15 December deadline to hold talks over their contract. | The workers say the online retail giant has refused to recognise their union and ignored a 15 December deadline to hold talks over their contract. |
| Amazon's facilities in Southern California, New York and Illinois could be affected, according to a Teamsters statement. | Amazon's facilities in Southern California, New York and Illinois could be affected, according to a Teamsters statement. |
| "The corporate elitists who run Amazon are leaving workers with no choice," said Teamsters General President Sean M O'Brien. | "The corporate elitists who run Amazon are leaving workers with no choice," said Teamsters General President Sean M O'Brien. |
| "Amazon must be held accountable to workers and consumers alike. If workers are forced onto the picket line, Amazon will be striking itself," he added. | "Amazon must be held accountable to workers and consumers alike. If workers are forced onto the picket line, Amazon will be striking itself," he added. |
| The union said it represents thousands of workers at 10 Amazon facilities across the US. | The union said it represents thousands of workers at 10 Amazon facilities across the US. |
| But an Amazon spokesperson, Eileen Hards, said the union "has continued to intentionally mislead the public – claiming that they represent 'thousands of Amazon employees and drivers'. They don't. | |
| "The Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal," she added. | |
| Earlier this week, a congressional investigation concluded that the e-commerce giant pushes its US warehouse workers to fulfil orders at speeds that could cause high rates of injury. | |
| The investigation led by Democrat Senator Bernie Sanders also said the company had refused to introduce changes to improve safety because of concerns about its profits. | |
| Amazon said the report was "wrong on the facts", and featured "selective, outdated information that lacks context and isn't grounded in reality". | Amazon said the report was "wrong on the facts", and featured "selective, outdated information that lacks context and isn't grounded in reality". |
| The company, which employs roughly 800,000 people in the US, has faced accusations about unsafe conditions at its warehouses for years. | The company, which employs roughly 800,000 people in the US, has faced accusations about unsafe conditions at its warehouses for years. |
| Those concerns ramped up during the Covid pandemic, when e-commerce exploded, leading to protests by its workers around the world. | Those concerns ramped up during the Covid pandemic, when e-commerce exploded, leading to protests by its workers around the world. |
| Amid the controversy, founder Jeff Bezos said the company needed to do better by its employees. | Amid the controversy, founder Jeff Bezos said the company needed to do better by its employees. |
| Senator Sanders, who is known for his pro-worker stance, launched an investigation into Amazon's practices in June 2023. Senate staffers conducted 135 interviews and reviewed more than 1,000 documents. | Senator Sanders, who is known for his pro-worker stance, launched an investigation into Amazon's practices in June 2023. Senate staffers conducted 135 interviews and reviewed more than 1,000 documents. |
| Their analysis of public records found that warehouses operated by Amazon recorded over 30% more injuries than the warehousing industry average in 2023. | Their analysis of public records found that warehouses operated by Amazon recorded over 30% more injuries than the warehousing industry average in 2023. |