Warehouse workers in New York City who are members of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) have voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. This decision comes as they seek to secure a contract from Amazon. The ALU members voted 98.3 percent in favor of aligning with the Teamsters, a move that will provide them with additional resources and support in their efforts to bring Amazon to the bargaining table.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced the results of the vote in a press release, with Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien expressing his confidence in the workers’ ability to take on Amazon and win. O’Brien highlighted the strength, unity, and determination demonstrated by Amazon workers, both in the warehouses and behind the wheel. He emphasized that the Teamsters and ALU would fight fearlessly to ensure that Amazon workers have good jobs and safe working conditions through a union contract.
However, Amazon has disputed the union election that took place in 2022, which granted ALU the right to represent workers at the Staten Island warehouse. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment on this matter.
With the approval of the affiliation deal, the ALU will join the Teamsters as an “autonomous” local union. This means that it will have the same rights and responsibilities as a standard chapter. The newly chartered ALU-International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1 will be composed of approximately 5,500 Amazon warehouse workers in Staten Island. It will also have jurisdiction over Amazon warehouse workers across all five boroughs of New York City and is expected to support the Teamsters’ wider organizing efforts at other Amazon facilities outside its jurisdiction.
The agreement between ALU and the Teamsters includes provisions for at least three local union representatives to participate in executive planning and strategy discussions with the Teamsters division focused on organizing workers at Amazon. ALU President Chris Smalls expressed his belief that this affiliation will provide the strength needed to secure a contract at the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island.
While the ALU’s victory in Staten Island remains its only election win thus far, it is a notable achievement considering the opposition from Amazon and the size of its facilities. However, despite their success in winning the election, the ALU has not been able to secure a contract for over two years due to Amazon’s ongoing appeals of the National Labor Relations Board’s vote.
The ALU has also faced other challenges, including election losses at other Amazon warehouses and internal conflicts over its organizing strategy. Some organizers left to form the ALU Democratic Reform Caucus, an opposing group that sued the ALU last year to force an election for new leadership. However, Connor Spence, the ALU Caucus’s candidate for president, expressed support for the warehouse worker members’ decision to affiliate with the Teamsters, stating that it sends a powerful message to Amazon about their commitment to demanding better conditions.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, established in 1903, is a well-established labor organization with 1.3 million members across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. President O’Brien, who was elected in 2021, has made organizing at Amazon a priority. This affiliation with ALU is part of the Teamsters’ broader efforts to organize workers at Amazon and fight for their rights.
Earlier this year, Amazon workers at an air hub in Kentucky also voted to join forces with the Teamsters as part of their own organizing efforts. This demonstrates a growing trend of Amazon workers seeking union representation and support from established labor organizations like the Teamsters.
In conclusion, the decision by New York City warehouse workers to affiliate with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a significant development in their ongoing efforts to secure better working conditions and a union contract from Amazon. The overwhelming approval of this affiliation deal highlights the determination and unity of these workers in the face of opposition from the online retail giant. By joining forces with the Teamsters, the ALU members hope to leverage their collective strength and resources to achieve their goals. This move also aligns with the broader organizing efforts taking place among Amazon workers across the country.
