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| Amazon hit by 'strike' during holiday season scramble | Amazon hit by 'strike' during holiday season scramble |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| One of America's most powerful labour unions is staging a protest against Amazon, aiming to put pressure on the tech giant as it rushes out packages in the final run-up to Christmas. | One of America's most powerful labour unions is staging a protest against Amazon, aiming to put pressure on the tech giant as it rushes out packages in the final run-up to Christmas. |
| The Teamsters union said Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities had walked off the job on Thursday, after the company refused to negotiate with the union about a labour contract. | The Teamsters union said Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities had walked off the job on Thursday, after the company refused to negotiate with the union about a labour contract. |
| Teamsters members were demonstrating at "hundreds" of other Amazon locations, according to the union, which described it as the "largest strike" in US history involving the firm. | Teamsters members were demonstrating at "hundreds" of other Amazon locations, according to the union, which described it as the "largest strike" in US history involving the firm. |
| The company, which employs roughly 800,000 people in its US delivery network, said its services would not be disrupted. | |
| "What you see here are almost entirely outsiders — not Amazon employees or partners — and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters," Amazon said in a statement. | "What you see here are almost entirely outsiders — not Amazon employees or partners — and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters," Amazon said in a statement. |
| It was not clear how many people were participating in Thursday's action. | It was not clear how many people were participating in Thursday's action. |
| The Teamsters union said thousands of Amazon workers were involved. | |
| Overall, the group claims to represent "nearly 10,000" Amazon workers, after signing up thousands of people at about 10 locations across the country, many of them in the last few months. | |
| The organisation has demanded recognition from Amazon, accusing the company of illegally ignoring its duty to negotiate collectively over pay and working conditions. | The organisation has demanded recognition from Amazon, accusing the company of illegally ignoring its duty to negotiate collectively over pay and working conditions. |
| "They've pushed workers to the limit and now they're paying the price. This strike is on them," said the union's general president, Sean O'Brien. | "They've pushed workers to the limit and now they're paying the price. This strike is on them," said the union's general president, Sean O'Brien. |
| "If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon's insatiable greed." | "If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon's insatiable greed." |
| The Teamsters is a storied US union, with more than one million members overall. It is known for winning robust contracts for members at firms such as delivery giant UPS. | The Teamsters is a storied US union, with more than one million members overall. It is known for winning robust contracts for members at firms such as delivery giant UPS. |
| Most of the Teamsters' Amazon campaigns have involved drivers technically employed by third-party delivery firms that work with the tech giant. | Most of the Teamsters' Amazon campaigns have involved drivers technically employed by third-party delivery firms that work with the tech giant. |
| Amazon denies that it is on the hook as an employer in those cases, a question that is currently the subject of legal dispute. Labour officials have preliminarily sided with the union on the issue in at least one instance. | Amazon denies that it is on the hook as an employer in those cases, a question that is currently the subject of legal dispute. Labour officials have preliminarily sided with the union on the issue in at least one instance. |
| Amazon employees at a major warehouse in Staten Island in New York have also agreed to affiliate with the Teamsters. | Amazon employees at a major warehouse in Staten Island in New York have also agreed to affiliate with the Teamsters. |
| Their warehouse holds the distinction as the only Amazon location in the US where a union victory has been formally ratified by labour officials. | Their warehouse holds the distinction as the only Amazon location in the US where a union victory has been formally ratified by labour officials. |
| But it has seen little progress when it comes to contract negotiations since the 2022 vote. It was not among the locations listed to go on strike on Thursday. | But it has seen little progress when it comes to contract negotiations since the 2022 vote. It was not among the locations listed to go on strike on Thursday. |
| Amazon, one of the largest employers in the US, has long faced criticism of its working conditions and been the target of activists hoping to make inroads among its workers. | Amazon, one of the largest employers in the US, has long faced criticism of its working conditions and been the target of activists hoping to make inroads among its workers. |
| Its fierce opposition to unionisation efforts has also been called into question. | Its fierce opposition to unionisation efforts has also been called into question. |
| But it is not the only business facing pressure over its refusal to come to the table about a contract years after the start of unionisation efforts. | But it is not the only business facing pressure over its refusal to come to the table about a contract years after the start of unionisation efforts. |
| At Starbucks, where the first coffee shop voted to unionise in 2021, workers also recently authorised a labour strike, accusing the company of dragging its feet on negotiations. | At Starbucks, where the first coffee shop voted to unionise in 2021, workers also recently authorised a labour strike, accusing the company of dragging its feet on negotiations. |