'March on the boss' | Amazon workers seeking better pay & conditions get closer to Teamsters union

Amazon workers seeking better pay & conditions get closer to Teamsters union

Amazon workers continue to make progress on union affiliation, with warehouse workers in San Francisco becoming the first group to demand direct union recognition outside the traditional National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election process.

More than 100 employees at the company's DCK6 facility staged a "March on the Boss" to announce their affiliation with the Teamsters union, marking a significant shift in warehouse worker organising strategies.

The development follows a year-long organising effort at the facility, where workers are seeking improved pay, safer working conditions, and greater workplace representation. Many part-time staff currently lack basic benefits, according to union representatives.

"This organizing drive isn't about one worker or one warehouse – this is a ground-up movement to ensure all Amazon workers are treated fairly and with respect," said Dori Goldberg, a DCK6 warehouse worker and new Teamster member.

The San Francisco action builds on recent union successes at other Amazon facilities. Last week, hundreds of drivers at a facility in Queens, New York, formed a Teamsters union, while workers at major air hubs in Kentucky (KCVG) and the West Coast (KSBD) recently staged walkouts over labour practices.

The unionization push has already yielded results, with Amazon announcing wage increases for warehouse workers and drivers in response to growing pressure from organised labour.

A significant breakthrough occurred in August when NLRB Region 31 determined Amazon to be a joint employer of its delivery drivers in Palmdale, California, requiring the company to recognise and bargain with Teamsters representatives. This ruling sets a precedent applicable to Amazon drivers nationwide working under similar conditions.

Amazon workers "essential"

Jocelyn Vargas, another SF warehouse worker, emphasised the essential nature of their work: "We handle thousands of packages every day. We are essential workers, and it's time Amazon treats us that way."

The movement has gained further momentum from the Amazon Labor Union's recent vote to affiliate with the Teamsters, approved by 98.3% of members. Currently, Amazon Teamsters from Palmdale and Skokie, Illinois, are on strike and extending their picket lines to facilities across the country.

Amazon had previously attempted to distance itself from direct employment responsibility for its drivers through its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) programme. However, the recent NLRB ruling means the company must now recognise and bargain with the Teamsters at any DSP where a majority of workers choose union representation.

The move represents a significant shift in labor relations at one of the world's largest employers and could signal broader changes in how major corporations engage with workforce organisation efforts.

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