Amazon Says US Strike Caused ‘No Disruptions’

AFP/APP

New York:A  US strike targeting Amazon during the peak festive season extended into a second day on Friday, with the retail giant stating that the labor action has not disrupted its business.

“Amazon has experienced ‘no disruptions at all,'” a company spokeswoman told AFP. “And we aren’t anticipating any either.”

The Teamsters union launched the strike on Thursday, targeting seven Amazon facilities across the United States. Union officials confirmed that the stoppage continued Friday at the same locations.

“When they (Amazon) come to the table, I guess that’s when we’ll stop,” said Tony Rosciglione, treasurer of Teamsters Local 804 in New York, speaking from a picket line in New York City.

The union had set a December 15 deadline for Amazon to enter contract negotiations, citing progress made by organizing drives at Amazon facilities. However, Amazon has consistently resisted labor organizing efforts, advocating for a direct relationship with employees without third-party involvement.

Amazon’s Response

Amazon highlighted its track record of wage increases, stating that starting warehouse and transport workers have seen a 20 percent wage hike over the last six years, along with health and retirement benefits.

The Amazon spokeswoman dismissed the union’s claims as a “false narrative,” stating, “The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous.”

She also noted that several unfair labor practice lawsuits had been filed. Meanwhile, the union filed its own lawsuits on Friday based on similar grounds.

Starbucks Strikes

Separately, a union drive at Starbucks also led to strikes that began on Friday. The labor group Starbucks Workers United announced “escalating strikes” through Christmas, starting in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle.

The group, which has unionized more than 500 stores across the United States, accused Starbucks of “backtracking” on commitments to negotiate productively on a contract.

Starbucks described union demands for an immediate 64 percent minimum wage hike, with a three-year increase of 77 percent, as “not sustainable.”

“There has been no significant impact to our store operations,” a Starbucks spokesman said Friday. “We are aware of disruption at a small handful of stores, but the overwhelming majority of our US stores remain open and serving customers as normal.”

The union announced that the strikes would expand on Saturday to locations in Columbus (Ohio), Denver (Colorado), and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).