ILLINOIS AMAZON DRIVERS STRIKE OVER UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES

Workers organize with Teamsters and demand a union contract

SKOKIE, sick, June 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Amazon drivers at the company’s DIL7 delivery station in Skokie, sick., went on strike this morning following numerous violations of federal labor law by the delivery giant. The 100 drivers who unionized with Teamsters Local 705 Chicago demand that Amazon recognize its union and negotiate a fair contract.

“I work for one of the richest men in the world and have had to skip meals to make sure my child eats and my bills are paid,” said Echevarria ebony, a landmark Amazon pilot. “This is simply not right. My colleagues and I are fighting for respect, a living wage, and safe working conditions for us and for all Amazon workers.”

Amazon workers in Skokie live paycheck to pay low wages, usually paid around $20 per hour and rarely have a full 40 hour work week. Workers want affordable, quality health care to replace an expensive, poor health plan. They are also demanding safe working conditions after years of being forced to drive unsafe vans and being pressured by the company not to report injuries.

“Amazon workers across the country are organizing with the Teamsters to get the pay, safety and respect they deserve,” said Randy Korgan, Director of the Amazon Division of the Teamsters. “Other Teamsters in the warehousing and delivery industry are on the picket line with them today, because when workers are united, we are stronger than Amazon.”

Amazon avoids liability for its drivers through its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) business model, exercising complete control over DSP wages, working conditions, and safety standards. The drivers in Skokie organized their union within Amazon’s Four Star Express Delivery DSP.

The Teamsters recently joined the senator. Chris Murphy (Connecticut Democrat) and a bipartisan coalition of more than 30 senators to demand that Amazon cooperate with a congressional investigation seeking information about its DSP exploitation program.

“Every Amazon driver knows who our real employer is,” said Luke Cianciotto, one of the striking Amazon drivers. “We wear their uniforms and drive their trucks. They decide whether we can be hired or fired. We earn their profits and we have organized a union with the Teamsters for our fair share.”

Amazon drivers in Skokie were inspired by other Amazon workers, including truck drivers Palmdale, California.who organized through Teamsters Local 396 and picketed more than 30 Amazon warehouses across the country as part of a continuing strike against unfair labor practices.

On June 18Amazon warehouse workers at the JFK8 factory in Staten Island, New York, voted by an overwhelming 98.3 percent in favor of joining the Teamsters. More than 5,500 warehouse workers will be members of ALU-IBT’s new Local 1, gaining renewed representation and powerful resources to demand a contract from this billion-dollar global company.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the United States, CanadaAnd Porto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “Like” us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:
Kara Deniz(202) 497-6610
(email protected)

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters