Teamster drivers extend their labor strike to Amazon’s Industry warehouse

Delivery drivers with Teamsters Local 396 extended their unfair labor practice strike to Amazon.com’s DAX5 warehouse in the city of Industry this week, picketing to rally support for higher wages and safer working conditions amid high summer heat.

The more than 80 Palmdale-based workers — employed by logistics partner Battle Tested Strategies and subcontracted by Amazon — voted in June 2023 to join the union, hoping to boost wages to $30 hourly and secure better safety protections.

They ratified a Teamsters’ contract soon after, but allege Amazon refused to recognize the union agreement and terminated all the organized workers.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Amazon spokeswoman Eileen Hards said the Teamsters are “promoting a false narrative.”

“Their contract is with Battle-Tested Strategies, an independent delivery service provider, not affiliated with Amazon,” she said. “In fact, Amazon terminated its contract with Battle Tested Strategies last April for several breaches of contract, and this occurred well before they announced their affiliation with the Teamsters.”

Battle Tested Strategies and its employees haven’t delivered Amazon packages for nearly a year, according to Hards.

Jessie Moreno, who had been a Teamster driver at the Palmdale facility before being let go in late June, said many of the displaced workers have squeaked by with side jobs, while others have found full-time work with other companies.

But all the drivers and dispatchers, he said, are expecting to see their jobs reinstated.

“I feel disrespected by the company … but I 100% think this will work out for us,” he said.

The Palmdale drivers and dispatchers organized with the Teamsters to address low wages and dangerous working conditions — particularly exposure to extreme summer heat.

Working conditions in hot weather have long been a point of contention for drivers, union leaders and package delivery companies, and temperatures in the Antelope Valley often top 100 degrees.

Last week, California state officials delayed a vote to implement long-awaited rules requiring employers to safeguard workers against excessive heat in indoor workspaces, including warehouses.

Speaking last year, Palmdale driver Rajpal Singh said heat is a real issue.

“The step vans have air conditioning, but it only works in the front of the cab,” he said. “When I’m loading or unloading packages I’ve seen temperatures average 120 to 130 degrees inside the back of the trucks.”

Hards said Amazon asks its drivers to check the air conditioning in their vehicles before getting on the road, and those without functioning AC are grounded. Drivers are also provided with reusable water bottles, cooling towels, sunscreen, ice and headrest-mounted coolers.

“We make these supplies readily available to employees and partners at each of our delivery stations,” she said.

Amazon provide tips and training that reinforce how to operate safely in the heat, she said.

In regard to pay, Amazon’s delivery service partners set wage rates for drivers, the company said, and most earn more than $18 an hour.

Source: Orange County Register