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FOX Business’ Madison Alworth and a “Mornings with Maria” panel discuss the latest updates on the coordinated picketing effort by Amazon warehouse workers days before Christmas.
Teamster pilots have extended theirs strike against Amazon just days before Christmas, and thousands are standing strong, vowing to hold out for as long as it takes to bring the online retail giant to the table.
Teamster driver Christopher Velez is among those marching on the picket line. Standing outside in chilly twelve-degree temperatures early Monday in Maspeth, New York, he spoke with FOX Business’ Madison Alworth about the ongoing strike.
“Put yourself in our shoes,” he said. “We’re out here. We’re fighting for something. We’re tired of being treated like slaves. Slavery ended a long time ago, so I just hope everything gets resolved soon and back to normal.”
TEAMSTERS UNION LAUNCHES HISTORIC NATIONAL STRIKE AGAINST AMAZON: “PAYING THE PRICE”
Teamster drivers on strike against Amazon (left). Christopher Velez (right) is a union member on strike in Maspeth, Queens, New York. (Getty Images)
Velez said he’s “not really worried” about the possibility that Amazon may never come to the table because “there’s going to be a point where they’re going to have to negotiate with us one way or another.”
“They don’t like that we’re Amazon employees, but we’re Amazon employees and we’re fighting here,” he continued. “This is global. This is worldwide from Europe to the United States. We’re going to hit them. We’re going to hit them hard.”
Amazon has stood its ground, however, insisting they have no intention of sitting down with the Teamsters because, in their words, they “do not represent any Amazon employee.”
Amazon National Spokesperson Kelly Nantel he told FOX Business last week that “there is no strike” and called the movement a “protest”.
“There are no Amazon employees or drivers involved in this activity. What we have is a protest that has been created and manufactured by the Teamsters to make a point,” he said, adding, “But I think it’s very important for viewers to understand that the Teamsters do not represent any Amazon employees, nor do they represent any of our third-party drivers.”
Amazon workers in New York City are among those in U.S. cities organized under the Teamsters union to strike on Thursday, December 19, 2024. (WNWY)
Teamsters spokeswoman Kara Deniz responded to Amazon’s comments, insisting that the company is “making light of the American public with its false narratives.”
“The truth is that over 20 bargaining units representing nearly 9,000 employees have successfully organized because for many years the company has exploited and abused workers, and those workers are fed up and fighting back,” he said.
“No matter how great Amazon’s corporate PR machine is, they can’t fool the American public into believing that drivers who deliver Amazon packages in Amazon-branded vans don’t really work for Amazon.” Deniz added. “No one believes this nonsense. Amazon needs to stop avoiding its legal obligation to these workers and come to the bargaining table now.”
The strike, which began last week, initially included seven centers in California, Georgia, Illinois and New York.
Workers in two additional locations: Staten Island and elsewhere in California: he left work over the weekend to join the strike.
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Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien is calling on Amazon to provide better pay to its union members and to “bargain” just days before a busy holiday season.
Teamsters Union President Sean O’Brien encouraged the expansion.
“Amazon executives are cowards who hide behind lies, threats and intimidation to shirk their responsibilities to workers and the public,” he said. “It takes real courage to stand up to a corporate bully, and the Amazon Teamsters are doing just that.”
The union claims Amazon ignored its Dec. 15 deadline to negotiate new contracts for higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten of FOX Business contributed to this report.
