NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A group of 40 Amazon workers walked out of a warehouse in Queens Saturday morning. This move is the beginning of a warehouse strike, with the workers joining a nationwide movement of Amazon employees organizing.
The 40 workers, of the 100 employed at warehouse DBK4 in Maspeth, Queens, walked out at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
Amazonians United DBK4 are striking against union-busting activities and for fair working conditions, organizers said.
“Amazonians United has been organizing a union and fighting for demands like $25/hr starting raise, $2/hr bonus for peak season and prime weeks, safe staffing and other benefits for drivers like guaranteed access to hand trucks, winter coats and rain jackets. Warehouse workers are striking to protest multiple illegal unfair labor practices Amazon has implemented in an attempt to break our union,” Amazonians United DBK4 said in a statement to 1010 WINS/WCBS 880.
In addition to these working demands, the organized workers are striking in support of Carl Hooks, union activist and father of four, who was retaliated against after collecting petition signatures in support of better wages and working conditions, organizers and a GoFundMe dedicated to helping Hooks said.
Hooks has been suspended indefinitely by the third-party contractor Champion Logistics (DOT # 3726646, MC # 1313878) since Nov. 29, Amazonians United DBK4 said.
Workers protesting outside the warehouse chanting “Bring back Carl,” “Shut it down” and “Hey hey, ho ho, union busting has got to go.”
Strikers held signs supporting their cause, with phrases like “Teamsters Mobilize in Solidarity with Amazonians United,” “Amazonians Unite! Without us They’re Nothing” and “$25 Now.”
“We will continue to take action until Amazon meets our demands, reinstates Carl with backpay, and ceases all union busting activity,” Amazonians United DBK4 said.
Neither Amazon nor Champion Logistics immediately responded to 1010 WINS/WCBS’s request for comment.