Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien called on Amazon to provide better wages to its union members and “negotiate” just days before the busy holiday rush.
A truck drivers union strike against commerce giant Amazon is likely to continue and expand just days before the Christmas holiday, according to its president, Sean O’Brien.
“Santa would be disgusted by the behavior Amazon has engaged in over the last several years. They do not respect their workers. They do not respect those who make them successful, and we will hold them accountable.” O’Brien said Thursday onCavuto: Coast to coast.“
“We have made attempts to sit down and negotiate with Amazon, with the people we represent who have signed the majority of the cards. Amazon has consistently refused. They even filed a petition with the (National Labor Relations Board) to say that what we are doing is illegal,” the Teamsters president continued. And it’s not illegal.” “So we have no other choice.”
Thousands of Amazon workers, organized under a truck drivers union, went on strike at 6 a.m. Thursday after the company’s “repeated refusal to follow the law and bargain.”
on 10,000 Amazon Team Members in seven facilities in Skokie, Illinois; New York City; atlanta; San Francisco; The union said in a press release that Southern California is participating in the “largest strike” against the trillion-dollar company in American history. Workers at other facilities are ready to join them.
“Santa would be disgusted” by Amazon’s behavior, Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said Thursday on “Cavuto: Coast to Coast.” (Fox Business)
The strike comes after Teamsters claimed Amazon ignored a December 15 deadline set by the union to negotiate new contracts for higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions.
“These people are out there 365 days a year and are being abused by Amazon,” O’Brien said. “They’re getting beaten up at work… and they’re not getting paid accordingly. They’re being paid through a scam which is a third-party leasing arrangement, and they’re a co-employer. These people are not getting a livable wage. They’re getting the bare minimum.” The benefits, if any, are a shame, this should not be allowed to happen, this company is worth $2 trillion.
O’Brien called on Amazon to negotiate “in good faith,” noting that strikes will continue to expand not only in the United States, but abroad in Germany as early as “today or tomorrow.”
Two people were arrested for disorderly conduct, FOX Business’ Madison Allworth reported from the picket line in New York.
Amazon workers in New York City are among those in cities across the United States organized under a truck drivers union who went on strike Thursday. (WNWY)
“I’ve reached out to the mayor of New York. I’ve reached out to the attorney general. We have a problem in New York. These are the only politicians I’ve talked to where the police don’t allow it. Our members have their constitutional right to picket,” the union president explained.
“But it tells us how much Impact on Amazon In New York. I mean, did they promise the police anything? “I don’t know that,” O’Brien assumed. “But the reality of the matter is we have a constitutional right. We should be allowed to do this.”
He also urged New York’s top Democratic leaders to show their faces on the picket line: “Right now, no one has walked the picket line at Amazon. We still have Joe Biden in office. We have (the senator).” Chuck Schumer and (Rep.) AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), this is in their backyard. “Go out and show these workers how you support them.”
The first issue that task force members allegedly want to solve relates to pay and employee benefits.
Team members went on strikes at seven Amazon facilities, strategically timed less than a week before Christmas, a critical period for e-commerce, FOX 5 NY reports.
“I want to make sure they treat these employees with dignity and respect, make sure they’re paying the wages and benefits they deserve, and comply like any other company doing the exact same business. (We’ve) set industry standards with the United Parcel Service contract with the DHL contract,” O’Brien said. They must adhere to these standards and treat their employees accordingly.”
Amazon says the Teamsters union “intentionally misleads the public” because it does not represent Amazon employees and drivers, company spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said in a statement to FOX Business.
Nantel also said the company “does not anticipate any impact on our operations,” and “Teamsters have threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and subject to multiple charges.” Pending unfair labor practices charges against the union.”
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Liz Bentley Associates President Liz Bentley joined FOX & Friends First to discuss her response to strikes, how they could impact holiday deliveries and how Walmart is fighting theft.
“Amazon spent $17 million from 2022 to 2023 Fight the union. Just think, if they invested that money in their workers, I mean the pessimists can say whatever they want. There will always be cynics no matter what. Ultimately, we represent workers and we represent workers who have to endure the abuse of an Amazon employee or another senior person at the company. “So we’ll keep fighting,” O’Brien replied.
“I’m going to jump the picket line over there too. So I’m in battle gear, man.”
FOX Business’ Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
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