An Amazon delivery driver and a top Teamsters Local 804 organizer were arrested during a picket at an Amazon distribution center in Queens as part of a nationwide strike by drivers over alleged refusal to bargain with the union. The union accuses Amazon of greed and mistreatment of workers, seeking better pay, safety, and job security. Amazon claims it’s not the employer of subcontracted drivers, but workers feel disposable. The union’s organizing efforts have gained momentum, with support from various groups. The strike highlights the ongoing tensions between Amazon and its workers.
Organizing a strike against Amazon is no easy task. However, this is exactly what the Teamsters Local 804 union did at the Amazon DB4 Distribution Center in Maspeth, Queens. The strike was in response to Amazon’s alleged refusal to negotiate with the union and provide better working conditions for its employees. The strike escalated quickly as an Amazon delivery driver and a top Teamsters Local 804 organizer were arrested during the picket.
The strike involved drivers at seven facilities across the country, with workers demanding higher pay, improved safety measures, and job security. The union argued that Amazon’s subcontracting model left workers feeling disposable and at the mercy of the company’s hiring and firing decisions. The union also highlighted incidents like a pregnant driver being assaulted on the job and Amazon’s alleged lack of concern for worker safety.
The Teamsters have been gaining momentum in their efforts to organize Amazon workers, with more than 10,000 workers joining the union since the campaign started. The union’s merger with the Amazon Labor Union in Staten Island further strengthened their position. The dispute between Amazon and the Teamsters revolves around the company’s classification of its drivers as subcontractors rather than employees, a point of contention that has led to legal battles and accusations of anti-union activities.
The strike at the Queens facility was supported by various unions and advocacy groups, with hundreds of workers and supporters coming together to demand better treatment and respect from Amazon. The tension during the picket eventually settled down, but the message from the workers remained clear: they deserve fair wages, safe working conditions, and job stability.
Overall, the strike against Amazon by the Teamsters Local 804 union sheds light on the challenges faced by workers in the gig economy and the importance of collective bargaining to ensure their rights are protected. It also highlights the growing push for unionization among Amazon workers and the company’s ongoing struggles to address labor issues within its delivery operations.
Source: TheCity.NYC
