IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Workers at an Amazon warehouse-distribution operation in Riverside have joined the Teamsters Union.
One week after walking off the job, employees at the facility known as DJT6 “have successfully organized with Teamsters Local 1932 and are demanding Amazon recognize their union,” according to a statement released Dec. 20 by the union.
The workers, whose midnight walkout happened during the height of the holiday shopping season, are asking for better pay and safer conditions.
“Workers at DJT6, one of Amazon’s most important facilities, have been on the front end of Amazon’s abuse for years,” said Randy Korgan, director of the Teamsters Amazon Division and secretary-treasurer of Local 1932, in the statement.
“It is a crime that Amazon makes billions off their backs while they can’t even afford to buy a home near the warehouse.”
Specifically, the workers are asking Amazon provide to provide a minimum wage based on the industry standard, along with better health care working conditions. They have accused Amazon ignoring workplace injuries, and threatening to take away the jobs of injured workers if they take time off, according to the statement.
An Amazon official denied those accusations.
“The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union,” said Eileen Hards told CBS News.
