Amid escalating tensions, Amazon is grappling with a widespread strike initiated by drivers from a California delivery station. The unrest, which commenced on June 24, has now extended to picket lines outside more than 20 Amazon warehouses across the United States, including key locations in New York, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
The drivers’ protest stems from their termination after successfully forming a union and securing a contract with Amazon’s delivery partner. In a groundbreaking move, 84 drivers at the Amazon DAX8 station in Palmdale, California, affiliated with the Teamsters and negotiated a union contract with Battle Tested Strategies, Amazon’s delivery service partner. However, Amazon swiftly terminated its contract with Battle Tested Strategies in June, resulting in the firing of the 84 drivers.
The Teamsters have responded by filing multiple unfair labor practice charges against Amazon with the National Labor Relations Board, challenging Amazon’s refusal to acknowledge the union and its alleged joint employer status concerning the terminated drivers.
Amazon, with over 3,000 delivery service partners in the U.S., has categorically denied any joint employer association with the drivers. The ongoing dispute has prompted drivers to collaborate with workers at various Amazon sites, staging pickets and delivering petitions to demand a $25-an-hour base pay.
Brandi Diaz, a former delivery driver at the Amazon DAX8 station, expressed concerns about working conditions, emphasizing issues such as low wages, harsh weather conditions, and insufficient safety measures. Workers have taken to picketing to draw attention to their cause and urge Amazon to address their grievances, including unfair labor practices, recognizing the union, rehiring the terminated drivers, and engaging in negotiations over pay and working conditions.
While Amazon maintains its stance that it is not a joint employer, the National Labor Relations Board’s recent rule broadening the standard for determining joint-employer status is set to take effect on December 26, albeit not retroactively.
Michael Lieb, another terminated driver from Amazon DAX8, challenged Amazon’s assertions, highlighting the company’s control over drivers’ working conditions and the extensive surveillance they face.
As the dispute continues, the fired drivers remain resolute, viewing their pickets as a catalyst for broader awareness and collective action. They insist on continuing their strikes until a satisfactory contract is secured.
