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.

Teamsters boss Sean O’Brien has asked customers to “blame Amazon’s insatiable greed” if their deliveries are “delayed during the holidays.”

But angry shoppers have berated staff for putting their Christmas at risk by launching strike action during the last-minute shopping rush.

One customer said “now is not the time” to strike, while others warned it was “time to panic”. Another said: “Employees can kiss my ass right now for going on strike just before Christmas!”

Amazon says it does not expect any impact on its operations from what the union calls the largest strike against the company in U.S. history.

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.

Workers joined the picket line after Amazon ignored the union’s Dec. 15 deadline for contract negotiations.

The strikes are taking place at an Amazon warehouse in San Francisco, California, and six delivery stations in Southern California, New York; Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois, according to the union’s announcement.

Amazon workers at other facilities are “ready to join,” the union said, emphasizing that Local Teamsters unions are also set up picket lines at hundreds of Amazon fulfillment centers across the country.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters says it represents nearly 10,000 workers across 10 Amazon facilities, a small portion of the 1.5 million people Amazon employs in its warehouses and offices.

In a warehouse, located in the Staten Island neighborhood of New York, thousands of workers who voted for the Amazon Labor Union in 2022 and have since joined the Teamsters.

At other establishments, employees – including many delivery drivers – unionized with them, showing majority support but without holding government-administered elections.

“Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by not showing them the respect they deserve,” O’Brien said in a statement.

“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.

He added: “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed. »

But customers appear to blame striking staff and are taking to social media to vent their frustration.

‘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 at 10 of the company’s U.S. facilities, a small portion of the 1.5 million people Amazon employs in its warehouses and offices.

The Seattle-based online retailer is seeking to redo the election that led to the union’s victory at the Staten Island warehouse, which the Teamsters now represent. In the process, the company filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board.

Meanwhile, Amazon says the delivery drivers, whom the Teamsters have been organizing for more than a year, are not its employees.

Under its business model, drivers work for third-party companies, called Delivery Service Partners, that drop off millions of packages to customers every day.

“For over a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public by claiming they represent “thousands of Amazon workers and drivers.” This is not the case, and it is another attempt to spread a false narrative,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement.

“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.