After years of organizing Amazon workers and pressuring the company to bargain over wages and working conditions, two prominent unions are teaming up to challenge the online retailer. The Amazon Labor Union, the only union formally representing Amazon warehouse workers in the United States, has voted to affiliate with the 1.3-million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
The partnership was solidified in a recent voting process that ended on Monday, with members of the Amazon Labor Union overwhelmingly supporting the affiliation with the Teamsters. This move comes after the A.L.U. scored a surprise victory in an election at a Staten Island warehouse in 2022, but has yet to begin bargaining with Amazon due to the company contesting the election outcome.
Leaders of both unions expressed optimism about the affiliation agreement, stating that it would put them in a stronger position to challenge Amazon and provide the A.L.U. with more resources and support. Teamsters president Sean O’Brien emphasized the commitment to securing good jobs and safe working conditions for Amazon workers through the union contract.
The Teamsters have allocated $8 million to support organizing efforts at Amazon, with a focus on creating an Amazon division within the union. The affiliation agreement also extends to workers organizing at Amazon’s largest airplane hub in the United States, known as KCVG, which could potentially give workers significant leverage in negotiations.
Efforts to unionize Amazon have been scattered over the past decade, but the affiliation with the Teamsters marks a significant step towards consolidating organizing efforts. The agreement outlines the A.L.U.’s exclusive rights within the Teamsters to organize additional Amazon warehouse workers in New York City and collaborate on broader Amazon organizing initiatives nationwide.
Despite facing financial difficulties and internal challenges, the A.L.U. is moving forward with the affiliation in hopes of strengthening their position in negotiations with Amazon. The union is gearing up for leadership elections this summer, with the reform caucus fielding candidates to lead the organization.
The signing of the affiliation agreement has not been without controversy, as former A.L.U. president Connor Spence, who was fired by Amazon last fall, faced police intervention while trying to persuade workers to ratify the agreement. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Amazon, the unions, and workers seeking to improve their working conditions.
Overall, the affiliation between the Amazon Labor Union and the Teamsters signals a new chapter in the fight for better wages and working conditions for Amazon workers, with both unions committed to advocating for the rights of workers in the face of corporate opposition.
