Delivery drivers for Amazon and Starbucks baristas are currently on strike in several U.S. cities in an effort to push the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet their demands for a first labor contract. The strikes began on Thursday and Friday and are part of a larger trend of organized labor disputes between corporate America and workers. Despite successful labor union efforts in other industries this year, workers at Starbucks, Amazon, and other well-known consumer brands are still working towards securing their initial contracts.
The recent strikes are strategically timed during the holiday season, when economic activity is at its peak, to allow the unions to leverage their bargaining power and rally support from workers and sympathetic consumers. Both Amazon and Starbucks have faced increased organizing efforts following the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the essential role of frontline workers and the impact of economic inequality on wage-earning Americans.
While some success has been seen in organizing efforts at bookstores and stores owned by companies like Apple, Trader Joe’s, and REI, securing contracts remains a challenge. Amazon and Starbucks, previously non-unionized, are still in negotiations with their workers, who are seeking agreements with the e-commerce and coffee giants headquartered in Seattle.
Some experts speculate that workers are eager to make progress before potential changes to labor policies under the incoming administration, with concerns that a Republican majority in the National Labor Relations Board could be less favorable to unions. The unions are aiming to apply public pressure on the companies and draw attention to their cause before any potential shifts in labor regulations.
Although there are uncertainties about future labor policies, some signs suggest that the new administration may have a different approach to labor relations. For instance, the recent appointment of Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, known for her union support, to lead the Department of Labor indicates a level of bipartisan collaboration on labor issues.
Teamsters are leading strikes at Amazon delivery stations in several locations, alleging that the company failed to meet a negotiation deadline set by the union. The strikes are part of the workers’ efforts to secure better working conditions and contractual agreements with their employers.
Employees at a prominent warehouse in New York voted to join the Amazon Labor Union in 2022 and have since affiliated with the Teamsters. The labor group is advocating for higher wages, improved benefits, and safer working conditions for Amazon workers, many of whom face economic insecurity despite the company’s substantial value of $2.3 trillion. The union’s focus has been on organizing delivery drivers, a group that Amazon claims are not their direct employees as they are hired through contractors for package deliveries. However, the union argues that these drivers, who wear Amazon uniforms and drive company-branded vans, should be classified as Amazon employees.
Amazon has defended its pay rates, stating that warehouse and transportation employees receive a base wage of $22 per hour plus benefits, with recent pay increases for subcontracted delivery drivers. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has supported the union’s stance by ruling that the drivers are joint employees of Amazon, leading to accusations of unfair labor practices against the company. Amazon has contested these findings, questioning the legality of the NLRB’s actions in federal court.
Meanwhile, the Teamsters union claims to represent Amazon warehouse workers, including those at a major fulfillment center in New York City. Disputes over election results and bargaining agreements have arisen between Amazon, the union, and the NLRB, with ongoing legal challenges and negotiations taking place.
In contrast, Starbucks Workers United, a union organizing employees at company-owned stores since 2021, has been engaged in contract negotiations with Starbucks. Despite commitments to reach a labor agreement, the union accuses Starbucks of failing to address wage issues and unfair labor practices reported by workers to the NLRB.
Strikes initiated by Workers United in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle have expanded to include more cities, with baristas demanding improved economic packages and fair treatment. Starbucks faces pressure to resolve legal matters and address worker concerns as the labor disputes continue to unfold across various locations.
Dozens of Starbucks stores are currently impacted by a strike, according to reports. Starbucks has stated that Workers United prematurely concluded a bargaining session earlier this week. The company has emphasized that it already provides pay and benefits equating to $30 per hour for baristas who work a minimum of 20 hours per week. Last year, Starbucks workers staged walkouts on two occasions. Workers United has indicated that the ongoing strikes have the potential to expand to hundreds of stores nationwide by Christmas Eve.
Patricia Campos-Medina, a recent Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in New Jersey and the head of Cornell University’s Worker Institute at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, anticipates an increase in union activities prior to Trump assuming office. Campos-Medina expressed that the reactions of President Trump will allow the public to gauge his level of commitment to the working class.
This report includes contributions from Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit.
