Amazon Resolves Retaliation Case with Teamsters Over Striking Workers

• Amazon illegally deducted unpaid time off from employees who participated in strikes, pushing some workers' UPT balances into negative territory and risking termination
• More than 100 employees will have their UPT restored, and Amazon agreed not to terminate or discriminate against workers who exceeded UPT limits due to strike participation
• The Teamsters union, which organized a December 2024 strike at seven Amazon delivery hubs and claims to represent nearly 10,000 Amazon workers, filed the charges leading to this settlement

Summary: Amazon Settles Labor Dispute with Teamsters Over Worker Retaliation

Key Development:

Amazon has reached a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) following charges filed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters alleging the company retaliated against striking workers by illegally docking their unpaid time off (UPT).

Settlement Terms:

• Amazon will restore UPT to more than 100 affected employees
• The company will post notices at all 1,300 U.S. facilities informing workers of their right to organize
• Amazon agreed not to terminate or discriminate against employees who exceeded UPT balances due to strike participation
• Amazon denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle to "move forward"

Background:

The NLRB cited multiple cases since 2022 where Amazon deducted workers' UPT after walkouts, with some employees fearing termination as their UPT balances "went negative." The company provides frontline workers limited unpaid leave hours for emergencies, with termination risk if limits are exceeded. The NLRB ruled these deductions violated federal labor laws by coercively threatening workers engaged in protected activity.

Labor Context:

• Amazon workers at seven delivery hubs struck in December 2024 under Teamsters organization
• The Teamsters claims to represent nearly 10,000 Amazon workers (disputed by Amazon)
• Only two Amazon facilities have successfully unionized: a Staten Island warehouse and a Philadelphia air hub
• The Teamsters created an Amazon division to support unionization efforts

Market Implications:

This settlement adds to Amazon's ongoing labor relations challenges and regulatory scrutiny, potentially impacting operational costs and employee relations strategies as unionization efforts continue expanding across its extensive U.S. facility network.