YCD News – U.S. Amazon delivery drivers have expanded their strike activity from California to Georgia, with striking drivers demanding that Amazon address low pay and hazardous working conditions.
Reports say that on October 21, Amazon delivery drivers set up a picket line at the MGE9 warehouse near Atlanta. The action is just the latest in a nearly four-month strike by Amazon delivery drivers. Since June 24 of this year, Amazon delivery drivers have held several strikes.
Brandi Diaz, an Amazon driver involved in the strike, said, “I fight for my kids. I’m fighting for my coworkers’ kids. Amazon makes billions of dollars a year and pays us so little, and we’re sick of it! The strike will continue until workers win fair and pay and a safe work environment.”
YCD has learned that as of now, Amazon delivery drivers have picketed 20 warehouses across the U.S., including California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Georgia and Massachusetts.
Victor Mineros, head of Teamsters Local 362, said, “For too long, Amazon has been overworking its employees and offering cheap paychecks. Now workers are fighting back. With the support of their local communities and 1 million team members across the country, these workers will win the pay they deserve.”
In April, 84 workers at Amazon’s Palmdale distribution station joined forces with the Teamsters to form Local 362, the first Amazon Teamster union.Local 362 also has a contract with Battle-Tested Strategies (BTS), Amazon’s delivery service partner (DSP).
However, the striking drivers allege that Amazon has consistently refused to recognize and honor this contract, and that Amazon has engaged in dozens of unfair labor practices in violation of federal labor laws, including firing unionized employees.
YCD has learned that as recently as mid-October (Oct. 12), Amazon delivery drivers in the U.S. also staged a strike action in Los Angeles County, alleging that Amazon failed to put them into full workloads during the fall Prime Day sale, but failed to provide overtime pay.
As we move into the second half of the year, many sellers will be experiencing peak sales, and if the strike activity by Amazon delivery drivers continues to expand and more warehouses are affected, there is a good chance that merchandise delivery will be delayed. For sellers, this situation is really unfavorable.