Amazon warehouse staff within the US strike forward of vacation rush

“These grasping leaders had each alternative to point out decency and respect to the individuals who allow their obscene income,” stated Teamsters Basic President Sean M. O’Brien. said in a public statement. “As a substitute, they pushed staff to the restrict and now they’re paying the value. This strike is towards them.

It was a banner yr for Amazon. In keeping with the corporate’s third quarter earnings report, revenue from July to September increased by 55 percent in 2024 in comparison with the identical interval final yr. In a press release Launched with the earnings report, Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy stated the corporate is “enthusiastic about what we now have in retailer for patrons” for the vacation season. The report foreseen web gross sales might be between $181.5 billion and $188.5 billion within the fourth quarter.

“We now have not seen any affect on our operations” from the strikes, Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel stated. “We recognize all the nice work our workforce is doing to serve their prospects and communities, and we proceed to give attention to delivering prospects their vacation orders.” Nantel additionally accused the Teamsters of harassing and intimidating Amazon workers.

At DBK4, situated in Queens, New York, a whole lot of Amazon staff marched on the sidewalk outdoors a parking zone exit, generally verbally confronting supply drivers who crossed the picket line. Many supply vans honked in unison as they lined as much as exit the parking zone. Some protesting staff held indicators saying “Amazon respects the legislation.” Among the many demonstrators had been folks in solidarity, carrying indicators representing the New York State Nurses Affiliation and college students of the Metropolis College of New York (CUNY).

In the meantime, NYPD officers stood on the street, shouting and generally shoving staff as they stepped off the sidewalk. Simply after 9 a.m. ET, New York police arrested a supply driver who tried to get out of his supply van simply outdoors the parking zone and be a part of the hanging staff. Round 9:50 a.m., the New York Police Division introduced over a loudspeaker that any staff discovered on the street could be arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Shortly afterward, New York police arrested a Teamsters organizer, though it’s unclear whether or not they had been on the road. Finally, police arrange barricades outdoors the storage and started personally staging supply vans with non-striking Amazon loss prevention officers.