Picketers claiming e-commerce giant Amazon needs to fix issues such as wrongful termination for unionizing, low pay and dangerous working conditions took their cause to Connecticut Friday by demonstrating outside the company’s North Haven warehouse.
Demonstrators have picketed at Amazon locations in four states – California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut – since their strike began June 24.
The strikers on Friday included Amazon delivery drivers and dispatchers from Palmdale, Calif., according to an announcement from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Several dozen Teamsters participated in the protest.
The picketers have several demands of the company, including that Amazon reinstates “unlawfully terminated” Palmdale employees, recognizes the local Teamsters union, respects the contract negotiated by the workers and bargains with the union to “address low pay and dangerous working conditions.”
Cecilia Porter, a striking Amazon driver from California who traveled to Connecticut to participate in the picket line, described hazards she has encountered on the job.
“I’ve been bitten by a dog and felt close to fainting in the back of Amazon’s sweltering vans, but Amazon only cares about whether the packages get delivered,” Porter said, in the union announcement. “Our safety is not Amazon’s priority, so we are protecting ourselves by organizing a union. We are going to continue our unfair labor practice strike until Amazon respects our rights.”
Victor Mineros, secretary and treasurer of Teamsters Local 396 in Los Angeles, said in the announcement that Amazon workers organized a union for fair pay and safe jobs, but “Amazon illegally refused to recognize their union or bargain with them.”
According to the Teamsters, 84 workers in Palmdale joined Teamsters Local 396 and bargained a contract with Amazon’s delivery service partner, Palmdale-based Battle-Tested Strategies, in April.
The union alleges that Amazon has refused to recognize and honor the union contract, and claims it illegally terminated the entire unit of newly organized workers.
According to the union, Amazon workers in Palmdale had organized with the Teamsters to protect their safety, such as protecting them from having to work in high temperatures.
“Their Teamster contract guarantees the rights of workers to drive safe equipment and refuse unsafe deliveries,” the announcement states.
Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis said via email Monday, “Despite a small protest initiated and attended by mostly outside organizers, the activities had no impact on our operations or ability to deliver for customers.”
According to Paradis, Battle-Tested Strategies is no longer a delivery service partner for Amazon, as she said it was terminated April 14 for breach of contract, including failure to pay service providers, grounding policy violations and a vehicle inspection checklist/vehicle safety audit violation.
