Everything to know about the Amazon strike in Michigan

On December 20, 2024By Littum

In the middle of the Christmas shopping season, thousands of Amazon workers along with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, launched a nationwide strike Thursday.

While Amazon says holiday business will continue as normal, the Teamsters are calling it “the largest strike against Amazon in American history.”

The union is pushing for recognition and contract negotiations by threatening to disrupt operations during the busy holiday season.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is Amazon?

Amazon is an online retail company headquartered in Seattle.

Who went on strike?

The Teamsters union, which represents nearly 10,000 Amazon employees, launched the nationwide strike, the union said in a statement. That’s about 1% of Amazon’s hourly workforce, This was reported by Reuters.

When did the strike begin?

The strike began at 6 o’clock on Thursday morning, according to the union.

Where are Amazon workers striking?

Amazon workers with the Teamsters union went on strike across seven facilities in Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco, Skokie, Illinois and Southern California. Local Teamsters unions are also planning primary picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide, the union said.

Why do the workers strike?

Workers began the strike Thursday as Teamsters accuse Amazon of failing to come to the bargaining table to negotiate contracts by ignoring a Dec. 15 deadline set by the union, according to the union.

The Teamsters are pushing for union recognition and a new contract with better wages and working conditions.

“If your package is delayed over the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed. We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “These greedy managers had every opportunity to show decency and respect for the people who make their obscene profits possible. Instead, they pushed workers to the limit and now they are paying the price. This strike is on them.”

What is Amazon saying about the strike?

Amazon says the strike is not expected to slow its operations during the holiday season.

The Seattle-based online retailer has repeatedly refused to recognize the union, going so far as to file objections with the National Labor Relations Board, This was reported by Reuters. In an earlier statement to USA TODAY, an Amazon spokesman said the strike is not a legitimate representation of its workers.

Many of the workers involved in the work stoppage are drivers who Amazon has argued are not its employees, but rather work for a third-party company.

“For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to mislead the public — claiming they represent ‘thousands of Amazon employees and drivers,'” Eileen Hands, a company spokeswoman, said in the statement. “They don’t, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative.”

In a statement to Reuters, Amazon spokesman Kelly Nantel said the Teamsters “attempted to illegally force” workers to join the union.

“The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers into joining them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending charges against the union,” Nantel said.

Where are the Amazon facilities in Michigan?

Amazon has facilities throughout Michigan for shipping and delivery of customers’ goods. A list of Amazon facilities can be found at amzprep.com.

One of the state’s latest facilities opened this fall in Delta Township, near Lansing.

USA Today contributed.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: [email protected].