Frustrated workers at Amazon’s largest facility in Staten Island walked out on the job Saturday morning, joining a nationwide strike against the retail giant just days before Christmas.
Workers from the JFK8 Fulfillment Center, which employs a staff of about 5,500, joined the picket lines in solidarity with thousands of employees from warehouses across the country, including one other in New York City, the Teamsters Union announced.
Demonstrators are demanding higher wages, better benefits and improved working conditions.
“I am thrilled to be part of this fight,” said Valerie Strapoli, a worker at the Bloomfield location, said.
“Amazon has shoved us around for so long, but we have the momentum now.”
The Teamsters union said the strike, which entered its third day Saturday, came after Amazon ignored a Dec. 15 deadline to negotiate new contracts for employees.
The union representing Staten Island’s workers announced Friday night that it would join the “historic” strike at midnight.
“Amazon executives are cowards hiding behind lies, threats, and intimidation to dodge their responsibilities to workers and the public,” Teamsters general president Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement.
“It takes real courage to stand up to a corporate bully and Amazon Teamsters are doing just that.”
Amazon warehouse workers who voted to unionize in 2022 have tried to get the company to engage in contract negotiations since last year, leading Teamsters to file unfair labor charges against the company at the National Labor Relations Board, The Associated Press reported.
Amazon refused to bargain on a contract, with the company filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the labor board, which certified the Amazon Labor Union election, of tainting the vote.
The retailer now claims those on strike are “outsiders,” accusing the Teamsters of illegally coercing workers to join the union and disputing the “thousands” of employees and drivers the union claims to represent.
“What you see here are almost entirely outsiders – not Amazon employees or partners – and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.
“We appreciate all our team’s great work to serve their customers and communities, and are continuing to focus on getting customers their holiday orders.”
Teamsters claim to represent 10,000 Amazon workers, a mere sliver of the 1.5 million people the company employs in its warehouses and corporate offices.
Demonstrators on Staten Island received a boost of support from New York Attorney General Letitia James who joined the picket line Saturday morning.
“Amazon workers deserve higher wages and safe working conditions,” she said in a post on X.
“I was proud to stand with the @amazonlabor workers on strike on Staten Island today to fight for their rights.”
Other locations protesting the Jeff Bezos-led company include warehouses in Queens, Atlanta, California, and Skokie, Ill.
Amazon says it doesn’t expect the strike to impact its operations, but a walkout – especially one that lasts many days – could delay shipments in some metro areas.
Teamsters have not indicated how long they will be on strike.
