VICTORVILLE – Hundreds of Teamsters drivers at the Amazon facility in Victorville marched, on October 16, to demand that the e-commerce company recognize their union and begin negotiating a Teamsters contract.
“We are organizing as Amazon Teamsters to win the fair pay, safe jobs, and respect that we deserve,” said Amazon Teamster Isaiah Mauu.
Mauu goes on to say that Amazon has a lot of money, but they – as workers, have the power and they are holding the company accountable.
Unsafe working conditions, low pay, and unstable job schedules
According to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the “march on the boss” in Victorville is the latest example of Amazon workers making their voices heard in the face of unsafe working conditions, low pay, and unstable job schedules.
The union said in 2024, hundreds of Amazon drivers in New York City and warehouse workers in San Francisco joined the union.
In addition, workers in Kentucky and California walked off the job in protest of the company’s unfair labor practices.
“All of this comes alongside the monumental victory achieved by Amazon drivers in Palmdale, Calif., who secured a National Labor Relations Board determination that Amazon is a joint employer of the drivers at all its facilities and therefore has a legal duty to recognize and bargain with the Teamsters,” said the union in a statement.
Confident NLRB determination will extend nationwide
The union says they are confident the NLRB’s regional determination for the Palmdale workers will extend to Amazon DSP drivers who unionize nationwide. There are nearly 280,000 DSP drivers across the country.
Drivers at four of the Victorville facility’s DSP locations organized with the Teamsters at the October 16 march.
Amazon recently increased wages for DSP drivers to an average of $22 per hour, a 7% raise from the previous average of $20.50.