Amazon workers strike, demand labor agreement amid holiday rush

Hundreds of Amazon employees at seven facilities, including locations in Maspeth, Queens, and Staten Island, walked off the job this week, calling on the e-commerce giant to negotiate a labor agreement. The strike comes during the holiday season, a peak period for deliveries.

“This is the holiday season. Customers need their packages. These workers, UPS workers and Amazon workers, we are the Santa Clauses of Christmas,” said Antonio Rosario, an organizer with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Workers accuse Amazon of refusing to address their demands for better pay, benefits, and job security. “We’re striking against unfair labor practices that Amazon continues to do. They keep declining to negotiate at the table for a contract. We gave them a deadline of Dec. 15, and that’s why we’re outside today,” said Emmanuel Trinidad, an Amazon delivery driver.

The Teamsters Union, which represents nearly 10,000 Amazon workers at 10 facilities nationwide, said employees began picketing after Amazon ignored the deadline to negotiate. Workers are demanding improvements, including sick pay, vacation time, and job stability. “I’m here today and could be gone tomorrow,” Trinidad added.

Despite the strike, Amazon claimed operations remain unaffected. “What you see here are almost entirely outsiders — not Amazon employees or partners,” an Amazon spokesperson stated. “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.”

The strike has expanded to four states, with Teamsters signaling that more employees are ready to join the movement. Rosario expressed hope that customers will empathize with the workers’ plight. “I hope and pray that the customers understand what these workers are fighting for and understand that Amazon is the issue here,” he said.

As the strike continues, the standoff highlights the growing tensions between Amazon and its workforce, particularly during a critical season for the company’s operations.