From Amazon to Starbucks, how workers’ strikes in the US could disrupt holiday celebrations

Just days before Christmas, worker strikes in the US risk disrupting the holiday season.

Amazon workers are already on strike, and now Starbucks workers have joined in, potentially affecting festive celebrations.

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While Amazon claims the strike is unlikely to affect its operations, an extended walkout could lead to shipment delays in certain metro areas.

Amazon workers’ strike: What happened?

On Thursday, workers at seven Amazon facilities held a strike, organised by the Teamsters union, to push the company into negotiating a labour agreement during the busy shopping season.

Workers from warehouses in cities such as New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco participated in what union officials described as the largest strike ever against Amazon. According to the Teamsters, the workers, who had recently voted to authorise strikes, began picketing after Amazon failed to meet a deadline set by the union for contract talks.

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The International Brotherhood of Teamsters claims to represent almost 10,000 workers across 10 Amazon locations, a small fraction of the 800,000 employees in Amazon’s US warehouses. The union has not revealed how many workers are taking part in the strike or how long it will last.

In a statement, Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said, “Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned.”

In Queens, New York City, two individuals were arrested during the protest, according to the New York Police Department. Notably, the police did not provide details on the reason for the arrests but mentioned that the individuals were issued criminal court summonses and later released.

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An Amazon spokesperson accused the Teamsters of “intentionally misleading the public” and claimed the union had “threatened, intimidated and attempted to coerce” workers and third-party drivers to join the strike.

Amazon has several facilities across US metropolitan areas, which it believes will prevent major disruptions. In 2023, Amazon sold more than 500 million items from independent sellers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Amazon workers’ strike: Why are they protesting?

The workers who have gone on strike are demanding higher wages, improved benefits, and safer working conditions.

The Teamsters have been attempting to get Amazon in negotiations since last year when they first announced they had unionised a group of delivery drivers in California working for an Amazon contractor. Amazon, which denies employing these workers, refused to negotiate, leading the union to file unfair labour charges with the National Labour Relations Board.

Warehouse workers in the New York City borough of Staten Island who voted to unionise have also been seeking to initiate contract talks with Amazon.

Several workers told Reuters that they want the company to engage in negotiations and recognise the intense pressure to meet performance targets that impact their health. However, the strikers represent only a small fraction of the 800,000-plus workers employed by Amazon across its more than 600 fulfilment centres, delivery stations, and same-day facilities in the US.

Jordan Soreff, 63, who delivers around 300 packages a day for Amazon in Queens and Brooklyn, said, “(Amazon) pretends there isn’t a quota system, but there’s a rigorous quota system that pushes people beyond their real physical limits in an unnatural way.”

“The more you do, the more you’re expected to do.”

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Amazon workers’ strike: Will your deliveries be affected?

The impact of the strike on operations remains uncertain. Amazon still has hundreds of thousands of employees working at delivery hubs and facilities that are not unionised.

The company has said that it does not expect the strike to affect operations during the holiday season.

🚨 BREAKING: The Teamsters Union has launched the largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history. 🚨

Amazon has forced this strike by refusing to follow the law and bargain with the thousands of Amazon workers who organized with the Teamsters.

Now, Amazon Teamsters at facilities… pic.twitter.com/9gRej7GANm

— Teamsters (@Teamsters) December 19, 2024

However, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said on Thursday morning that if customers experience delivery delays, “you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed.”

An Amazon spokesperson explained that the company intentionally positions its facilities close to customers, schedules shipping windows, and works with other major carriers, such as UPS, to ensure product deliveries.

“We believe in the strength of our network and plan for contingencies to minimise potential operational impact or costs,” the spokesperson said.

Starbucks workers’ strike: Why are they planning to protest?

The union representing over 10,000 Starbucks baristas announced plans for strikes in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle on Friday, citing unresolved disputes over wages, staffing levels, and scheduling.

Workers United, which represents employees at 525 Starbucks locations across the US, warned on Thursday that the walkouts could expand daily and affect hundreds of stores nationwide by December 24 if an agreement is not reached.

The union has been calling on the Seattle-based coffee chain to address wage increases, improve staffing, and create better schedules. It announced a five-day strike that could disrupt holiday sales.

Starbucks responded, stating that it is prepared to continue negotiations and claimed union representatives ended this week’s bargaining prematurely. “It is disappointing they didn’t return to the table given the progress we’ve made to date,” the company said. “We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need the union to return to the table.”

The company stated that since April, it has held more than nine bargaining sessions with Workers United, reaching over 30 agreements on “hundreds of topics,” including economic issues.

Starbucks is currently undergoing changes under its new CEO, Brian Niccol, who has pledged to revive the brand’s “coffee house culture.” His plans include redesigning cafes, adding more comfortable seating, reducing customer wait times to under four minutes, and streamlining the menu.

The coffee giant has faced challenges this year, with sales falling for three consecutive quarters - a rare streak of decline. Customers have been put off by high drink prices and long wait times, while unionisation efforts at hundreds of stores have noted grievances over pay, benefits, and working conditions.

With holiday strikes on the horizon, your coffee runs might face disruption this festive season.

With inputs from agencies