Furious customers lash out at Amazon workers for throwing Christmas into chaos as they stage biggest strike against online retailers during last-minute shopping rush

Furious shoppers have slammed Amazon workers for throwing the holidays into chaos by launching the “biggest strike ever” against the online retailer just six days before Christmas.

Workers at seven Amazon factories in the United States walked out today in an effort to pressure the company into a labor agreement during one of the busiest shopping periods in the world. year.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters says it represents nearly 10,000 workers at 10 Amazon factories, although it is unclear how many people will participate in the walkout.

“If your package is delayed over the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed,” Sean O’Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said Wednesday evening.

“We have given Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do what is right for our members. They ignored him. This strike is against them.

The union has given Amazon December 15 to begin negotiations, and warehouse workers recently voted to strike.

Amazon said it doesn’t expect any impact to its operations, but shoppers nonetheless took to social media to voice concerns about the arrival of their vacation packages.

Some warned it was “time to panic”, saying industrial action could cause “huge” disruption to orders and deliveries.

Meanwhile, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez were spotted strolling to Mar-a-Lago last night to enjoy dinner with the president-elect Donald Trump.

Union workers from seven warehouses joined the picket line today to demand contracts that guarantee better wages and working conditions.

Local Teamsters unions are also organizing picket lines at hundreds of Amazon fulfillment centers across the country, the union said in a statement yesterday.

As workers gather on the picket line, shoppers voice their holiday shopping fears.

‘Oh damn, no Amazon on strike!! Now’s not the time, y’all,” one X user tweeted.

Another asked: “There are six days until Christmas and Amazon is on strike?!? »

“It’s time to panic for all of us who haven’t started shopping yet and Amazon is going on strike today in my area. Christmas shopping begins,” one added.

“Ooooooh, Amazon workers in the United States went on strike today. This will put a huge spanner in the works!!! All those Crispmouse pressies!!!!’ echoed another.

The strike poses a challenge to Amazon’s operations as it races to fulfill orders during its busiest season of the year, even though union-represented facilities represent only about 1 percent of the Amazon’s hourly workforce.

Areas such as New York City have multiple warehouses and smaller delivery depots, which could help Amazon mitigate any potential impact from a strike.

The Teamsters union said it represents about 10,000 workers across ten of the company’s U.S. facilities.

Amazon criticized the strike, with a company spokesperson saying the union had “intentionally misled the public.”

The Teamsters union has claimed for more than a year to represent thousands of Amazon workers and drivers, but spokesperson Kelly Nantel said, “They don’t, and this is another attempt to promote a false narrative.

“The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers into joining them, which is illegal and the subject of multiple unfair labor practice charges against the union. “

Observers said Amazon was unlikely to come to the negotiating table because it could open the door to more labor action.

It employs more than 1.5 million people worldwide and has said it prioritizes direct relationships with workers.

The retailer’s shares were trading slightly higher premarket, a sign that investors don’t expect much disruption from the strike.

Earlier this year, the company announced a $2.1 billion investment to increase wages for fulfillment and transportation employees in the United States, increasing employees’ base pay by at least 1 .50 to bring it to about $22 an hour, an increase of about 7 percent.

Meanwhile, Amazon boss Bezos was at Trump’s Florida mansion on Wednesday evening with his fiancée for their first meal with the president-elect following his recent election victory.

Footage shared on social platform X shows the couple holding hands and walking alongside Trump as they greet other guests.

The tech mogul wore a navy suit and white shirt, while his partner Sanchez sported a leggy outfit in a little black dress and stiletto heels.

Bezos is one of the last tech giants to rub shoulders with Trump before his presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Bezos said he plans to donate $1 million to the new president’s inaugural fund.

Relations between Trump and Bezos were rocky throughout the election, but appeared to improve after the Bezos-owned newspaper, the Washington Post, refused to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

This decision broke the publication’s tradition of always supporting the Democratic Party.

Bezos’ visit to Mar-a-Lago comes after Meta chef Mark Zuckerberg traveled to Florida last month to dine with Trump at his resort.