Amazon drivers in California go on strike, leaving worried consumers without deliveries.

A Historic Strike: Amazon Delivery Drivers Walk Off the Job in Palmdale, California

In a groundbreaking move, a group of Amazon delivery drivers and dispatchers in Palmdale, California, staged a walkout on Thursday, marking the first-ever driver strike in the United States. According to a report by Motherboard, this unprecedented action aims to compel the Seattle-based online shopping giant to come to the bargaining table.

Amazon has consistently rejected this request in the past, asserting that the 84 striking drivers are employed by Battle-Tested Strategies (BTS), not directly by Amazon itself. However, the Teamsters Union disagrees, claiming in a news release that Amazon exercises “absolute control” over BTS.

Low Pay and Dangerous Working Conditions

The Teamsters Union highlights “low pay and dangerous working conditions” as the primary concerns behind the strike. According to the Teamsters, drivers have to endure extreme temperatures inside their box vans, with the back of an Amazon van feeling like an oven during the scorching summer months.

“The vans we have — it’s a big metal container. In the extreme heat it can get upwards of 130, 135 degrees inside the van. You walk in, and it’s sweltering, the wave of heat that hits you — the only comparison I can give you is like walking into an oven, because it’s that nasty dry heat. You feel like you’re just getting cooked back there. I go through 10-12 bottles of water a day, and I urinate once.” – Raj Singh, Striking Driver

Furthermore, the drivers argue that their pay does not reflect the hard work they put in for a multibillion-dollar corporation like Amazon. They believe they should be able to provide food and clothing for their families.

“We know Amazon’s massive profits are only possible thanks to our labor. We will not stand by while Amazon breaks the law. We are holding Amazon accountable for our safety on the job.” – Jesus Gutierrez, Striking Driver

This strike follows a one-day walkout by dozens of Amazon workers at a San Bernardino, California, air hub in October. Those workers were demanding $5-per-hour raises and better working conditions, as reported by Bloomberg.

It is worth noting that Amazon is facing unionization efforts across the country, not just from drivers but also from package handlers and other job classifications, according to Bloomberg. The company claims that wages at its US facilities range from $16 to $26 an hour, depending on position and location, and that employees receive comprehensive benefits such as medical coverage and 401(k) retirement plans.

As the strike continues, the impact on Amazon’s operations and the resolution of the drivers’ demands remain uncertain. This historic event serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for fair labor practices and worker rights in the modern gig economy.

Source: Breaking: Amazon Drivers Walk Out in Historic Strike – Panicked California Consumers Left in Lurch