Amazon workers in several locations launched a strike Thursday morning as their union, Teamsters, said the e-commerce giant has repeatedly refused to negotiate with them.
Warehouse workers and drivers based out of seven fulfillment centers decided to picket after Teamsters unsuccessfully urged Amazon (AMZN) to start the bargaining process more than 20 times, union spokeswoman Kara Deniz told Investopedia. Workers are seeking better wages and benefits, and safer job conditions, Teamsters said.
Teamsters took action as Amazon’s business ramps up ahead of the holidays, organizing pickets at facilities in New York City, Atlanta, California and Skokie, Ill., the union said.
“We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “They ignored it.”
A Teamsters statement cited the involvement of “thousands” of Amazon workers. Amazon disputed that workers looked to the union for representation, and …