Furious customers blast to Amazon workers for throwing Christmas into chaos as they mount largest strike against online retailer during last minute shopping rush

Furious shoppers have blasted Amazon workers for throwing the holidays into chaos by launching the ‘largest-ever’ strike against the online retailer just six days before Christmas.

Workers from seven Amazon facilities across the US walked off the job today in a bid to pressure the company to come to a labor agreement during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters says it represents nearly 10,000 workers at 10 Amazon facilities, though it is not clear how many people will participate in the walkout. 

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

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

One customer argued ‘it is not the time’ for a strike, while others warned it was ‘time to panic’. Another went as saying ’employees can kiss my a** right now for going on strike right before Christmas!’

Amazon says it doesn’t expect an impact on its operations during what the union calls the largest strike against the company in US history. 

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

The union gave Amazon a December 15 deadline to begin negotiations and warehouse workers had recently voted to authorize a strike. Teamsters members are pictured in NYC

Teamsters local unions are also putting up picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide. Pictured are New York City area Amazon workers on strike today

Workers joining the picket line after Amazon ignored a December 15 deadline the union set for contract negotiations. 

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

Amazon workers at the other facilities are ‘prepared to join,’ the union said, noting that Teamsters local unions are also putting up picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters say they represent nearly 10,000 workers at 10 Amazon facilities, a small portion of the 1.5 million people Amazon employs in its warehouses and corporate offices.

At one warehouse, located in New York City´s Staten Island borough, thousands of workers who voted for the Amazon Labor Union in 2022 and have since affiliated with the Teamsters. 

At the other facilities, employees – including many delivery drivers – have unionized with them by demonstrating majority support but without holding government-administered elections.

‘Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned,’ O’Brien said in a statement. 

‘We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it. This strike is on them.’

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

But customers are seemingly blaming the striking staff and have taken to social media to air out their frustrations.

‘Oh hell no Amazon on strike!! This not the time y’all,’ an X user tweeted. 

Another questioned: ‘It’s six days until Christmas and Amazon is on strike?!?’ 

‘It’s time to Panic for all those of us that haven’t started shopping yet and Amazon is going on strike today in my area. Christmas shopping commence,’ one added. 

‘Oooooo heck Amazon workers in US gone on strike today. That will put a huge spanner in da works!!! All those Crispmouse pressies!!!!’ echoed another.

Amazon said it does not expect any impact to its operations, but shoppers have still taken to social media detailing concerns over the arrival of their holiday packages

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

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

The Teamsters union has said it represents about 10,000 workers at 10 of the company’s US facilities, a small portion of the 1.5 million people Amazon employs in its warehouses and corporate offices.

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

Meanwhile, Amazon says the delivery drivers, which the Teamsters have organized for more than a year, are not its employees. 

Under its business model, the drivers work for third-party business, called Delivery Service Partners, who drop off millions of packages to customers everyday.

‘For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public – claiming that they represent “thousands of Amazon employees and drivers“. They don’t, and this is another attempt to push 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 to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union.’

Teamsters members march through the streets of New York holding picket signs in demand of better working conditions

Amazon warehouse workers hold signs declaring the company is ‘unfair’ as they strike in NYC 

Amazon warehouse workers assembled in NYC today after walking out in the largest strike against the online retailer in history

Observers have said Amazon was unlikely to come to the table to bargain as that could open the door to more union actions. Pictured are Teamsters members demonstrating in NYC today

Observers have said Amazon was unlikely to come to the table to bargain as that could open the door to more union actions.

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

The retailer’s shares were trading slightly higher in premarket hours, a sign that investors do not expect a big disruption from the strike.

Earlier this year, the company announced a $2.1billion investment to raise pay for fulfillment and transportation employees in the US, increasing base wages for employees by at least $1.50 to around $22 per hour, a roughly 7 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, Amazon boss Bezos was at Trump’s Florida mansion with his fiancée on Wednesday night for their first meal with the President-elect after his recent election win. 

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 blue suit and white shirt, while his partner Sanchez put on a leggy display in a little black dress and stiletto heels. 

Billionaire Jeff Bezos was spotted strolling into Mar-a-Lago Wednesday evening to enjoy a dinner with President-elect Donald Trump

The Amazon founder arrived with his fiancee Lauren Sanchez 

Trump at Mar-a-Lago last night when he hosted a dinner with billionaire Jeff Bezos 

Bezos is one of the latest tech giants who has rubbed shoulders with Trump ahead of his presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025. 

According to the Wall Street Journal, Bezos said he planned on donating $1million to the incoming president’s inaugural fund 

Trump and Bezos’ relationship has been rocky throughout the election, but appeared to improve after Bezos-owned newspaper, the Washington Post, refused to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election. 

This move broke tradition for the publication that has historically backed the Democratic party. 

Bezos’ visit to Mar-a-Lago comes after Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg travelled to Florida last month to dine with Trump at his compound.