Michigan Amazon workers join a nationwide strike against the e-commerce giant during Amazon Prime sale week.
Workers at the Amazon delivery station in Pontiac demonstrated Friday, July 14, joining eight other warehouses across the country.
The strike follows the company’s brand sale: Amazon Prime Day. Prime Day, a member-exclusive sale, ran from July 11-12, but some deals run through July 15.
Early data suggests this year’s Prime Day sale could be the company’s most profitable yet. According to Adobe Analytics, consumers spent $12.7 billion during the two-day sale, up 6.1% year over year. Amazon said July 11 was the biggest day of sales in the company’s history, but declined to provide totals.
Between 50 and 100 Michigan workers demonstrated in solidarity with drivers and dispatchers in Palmdale, California, who began striking on June 24. Pontiac workers are not officially unionized. About 40 Teamsters from other sectors also demonstrated in support.
America’s first Amazon union was formed in Staten Island in April 2022. The independent grassroots Amazon Union struggled to gain ground. Other Amazon workers, like those in Palmdale, have joined the Teamsters unions.
Workers in Michigan are on strike over unfair labor practices and an unsafe work environment, according to a Teamsters press release.
“We are striking to stop Amazon’s unfair labor practices and get the respect we deserve,” said Alicia Ozier, a warehouse worker at the Pontiac delivery station. “At Amazon, we put productivity first and our safety second. I was injured when a box caught my eye. The wages are too low to cover my bills. Thanks to us, Amazon is a trillion dollar company and we deserve to be treated fairly.”
Pontiac workers submitted a petition to Amazon management in October 2022, demanding changes to their working conditions. Amazon has rescinded a previous peak-season raise. According to Teamsters, workers sustain injuries from heavy packages and fast-moving conveyor belts.
Workers also complained that Amazon takes an entire hour of their earned unpaid time off if they are just a few minutes late for a shift. Workers marched towards management wearing buttons demanding improvements.
Teamsters allege Amazon responded by retaliating against workers who led the organizing effort.
“We certainly respect individuals’ right to protest peacefully, but our focus remains on ensuring our employees and partners who deliver for customers are safe and able to work freely,” said Lisa Levandowski, Amazon spokeswoman.
“We are grateful to them for their hard work and dedication. And with less than 1 percent of employees at the facilities taking part in today’s protest, we don’t anticipate a significant impact on our operations.”
Some improvements have been made in recent months, but Amazon needs to do more, said Nicolas White, a warehouse worker at the Pontiac plant.
Michigan workers joined the strike along with workers in California, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
“We invited them to extend their picket lines into Michigan because this is a single fight,” White said. “Across the country, Amazon workers face the same problems, from low wages to dangerous working conditions. When a colleague of mine was hit by a shopping cart and needed medical attention, he was told to keep working because Amazon was understaffed. We fight back.”
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