Amazon union authorizes strike at 2 New York warehouses

Amazon's union has authorized strikes at two facilities in New York ahead of the looming Dec. 15 negotiating deadline.

"Amazon Teamsters at two New York City facilities — JFK8 and DBK4 — have voted overwhelmingly to authorize strikes following Amazon’s illegal refusal to recognize their union and negotiate a contract addressing the company’s low wages and dangerous working conditions," Teamsters wrote in a post on the social platform X Friday.

The strikes come after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters called on Amazon to agree to bargaining dates for a union contract by Dec. 15.

“Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned. We’ve been clear: Amazon has until December 15 to come to the table and bargain for a contract. If these white-collar criminals want to keep breaking the law, they better get ready for a fight," Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien said in a statement included in the post.

Thousands of Amazon workers went on strike late last month, demanding more pay and better working conditions during one of the company's busiest weekends of the year. The "Make Amazon Pay Day" strike, organized by the UNI Global Union and Progressive International, sought to “hold Amazon accountable for labor abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy,” the union federation said in a statement.

This year's strike was the fifth year demonstrations were held over Cyber weekend.

Amazon Spokesperson Eileen Hards said in an emailed statement to The Hill that "the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public — claiming they represent ‘thousands of Amazon employees and drivers.'"

Last month, Amazon pushed back on the group’s accusations, claiming the global union is “being intentionally misleading and continues to promote a false narrative.

Earlier year, the company announced more than $2 billion to increase pay for fulfillment and transportation employees in the country, raising the base wage for employees to more than $22 per hour or $29 per hour when including the value of elected benefits, such as health, vision and dental insurance, a 401(k) with 50 percent company match and up to 20 weeks paid leave, the company said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has been a vocal proponent for unions and backed the pending strike.

"Amazon delivery drivers and warehouse workers deserve decent wages, benefits and working conditions — and the right to form a union," Sanders wrote in a post on X Saturday. "I strongly support the thousands of Amazon workers who will go on strike tomorrow if Amazon doesn't end its illegal union busting."

Updated at 6:02 p.m. EST

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