The Amazon Labor Union, a grassroots labor group that achieved a significant victory at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island two years ago, has decided to affiliate with the Teamsters union. This move is expected to bring new momentum and support to the Amazon Labor Union, which has been facing challenges since its initial success. Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien made the announcement during the union’s general executive board meeting in Washington, stating that the Teamsters have unanimously approved the affiliation with the Amazon Labor Union. This affiliation will allow the Amazon Labor Union members to become an autonomous local union under the Teamsters, with the same rights and responsibilities as a standard chapter. The ultimate goal of this affiliation is to further the unionization efforts of Amazon’s non-corporate workforce.
The President of the Amazon Labor Union, Chris Smalls, expressed excitement about the affiliation with the Teamsters, describing it as a partnership to take on Amazon together. Smalls highlighted the union’s demand for a contract, which they have been striving to secure for over two years since their initial victory. Despite the challenges faced by the union, including internal conflicts and election losses at other Amazon warehouses, Smalls remains focused on the union’s mission to secure a contract for its members. The Amazon Labor Union has also faced internal strife, resulting in the formation of the ALU Democratic Reform Caucus, a dissident group that is advocating for new leadership through an upcoming election in July.
The agreement between the Amazon Labor Union and the Teamsters has raised concerns and pushback from the ALU Democratic Reform Caucus. The caucus believes that the union should prioritize the internal leadership election in July before seeking ratification for the new agreement with the Teamsters. However, there are challenges in obtaining an updated list of ALU members for the internal election, which could impact the ratification process of the affiliation with the Teamsters. As the details of the agreement continue to unfold, there is anticipation and uncertainty surrounding the future direction of the Amazon Labor Union under the affiliation with the Teamsters.
Representatives for Amazon and the Teamsters have not yet provided any comments on the recent affiliation agreement. The Teamsters’ decision to unify forces with the Amazon Labor Union reflects a strategic move to strengthen their collective bargaining power and unionization efforts within Amazon’s workforce. With the ongoing challenges and internal conflicts within the Amazon Labor Union, the affiliation with the Teamsters could provide the necessary support and resources to overcome obstacles and achieve their goal of securing a contract for their members. As the union moves forward with its plans for an internal election and ratification process, the collaboration with the Teamsters is expected to bring new opportunities and momentum to the labor movement within Amazon and beyond.
