Amazon workers across the U.S. are escalating their fight for fair treatment, union contracts, and improved working conditions, fueled by widespread dissatisfaction with low pay, unsafe environments, and the corporation’s disregard for their rights. From Illinois to California and New York, workers are organizing under the Teamsters and other unions to demand respect, better wages, and safer workplaces.

Strike Actions and Worker Organizing

  • Teamsters at DIL7 in Skokie, Illinois: Workers overwhelmingly authorized a strike after Amazon refused to negotiate a union contract. This follows similar votes in New York City at JFK8 and DBK4 facilities.
  • California Actions: Workers at four Southern California facilities (DFX4, DAX5, KSBD, and DAX8) also authorized strikes, joining seven other Amazon sites nationwide in escalating demands for fair treatment.
  • San Francisco Warehouse Workers (DCK6): 100 workers marched on management, demanding voluntary recognition of their union — a first for warehouse workers rather than subcontracted delivery drivers.

Amazon delivery drivers, employed by subcontracted “Delivery Service Partners” (DSPs), are increasingly organizing for better conditions:

In Queens, New York, drivers from eight DSPs have demanded union recognition under the Teamsters.
Drivers highlight worsening conditions, including longer hours, more demanding workloads, and unsafe environments.
Independent unions like Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE) in North Carolina are also making strides.

Workers at RDU1 petitioned for a union election, calling for $30/hour, safer conditions, and dignity on the job.

Amazon has consistently refused to recognize unions or negotiate contracts, defying labor laws and pushing workers toward strike action. The Teamsters set a December 15 deadline for Amazon to negotiate but received no response, leading to the potential for large-scale strikes during the holiday season. Workers accuse Amazon of prioritizing profits over people, risking major disruptions to operations.

Sean M. O’Brien, Teamsters General President, condemned Amazon’s treatment of workers.

“The way Amazon treats its workers is un-American,” said O’Brien. “Amazon’s so-called ‘leaders’ should treat their workers fairly — they just want to put food on the table for their families. Instead, Amazon executives risk ruining the holidays for their customers because of their addiction to putting profits over people.”

“Management was clearly shocked to see so many of us standing together,” said Dori Goldberg, a sorter and loader at DCK6. “It felt empowering to have our voices heard and to take back some of the power we deserve.”

Workers like Goldberg cite Amazon’s grueling conditions as unsustainable. “I used to be healthy, but the stress, bad air quality, and exhausting hours have left me sick and tired — literally. Organizing is the only way we can demand the good-quality jobs we deserve,” Goldberg added.

Amazon’s delivery drivers, employed through subcontractors, are also joining the movement. In Queens, New York, drivers from eight subcontracted DSPs have demanded union recognition under the Teamsters banner. Jeffrey Arias, a delivery driver, emphasized the growing frustration among drivers:

“We’ve seen our work get harder — longer hours, more packages, hotter conditions. Dreams don’t work unless we do, so we’re fighting for the respect and pay we deserve.”

This sentiment echoes across Amazon’s logistics chain, where workers are organizing to demand better wages, safety measures, and disability accommodations. At STL8, a St. Louis fulfillment center, workers petitioned for $25 an hour.

Mary Hill, a leader with CAUSE, spoke to the universal need for respect in the workplace:

“We want to be treated with respect — no name-calling, no hollering. We’re fighting for $30 an hour and time to live our lives.”

“The ball is in Amazon’s court,” said Juan Campos, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 705. “If they keep breaking the law, they will face the consequences.”

With Amazon reporting $30.4 billion in profits last year, workers are sending a clear message: nothing moves without them. As organizing momentum grows, Amazon workers nationwide are determined to fight for the wages, benefits, and respect they deserve.

The Teamsters now claim to represent workers at 10 Amazon facilities, with momentum building across the company’s logistics network.