Amazon einigt sich im Teamsters-Fall, der Vergeltungsmaßnahmen gegen striking workers vorwirft

Amazon hat im Rahmen einer settlement mit federal labor officials zugesichert, keine Vergeltungsmaßnahmen gegen workers zu ergreifen, die in den strike gehen.
Das Unternehmen wird unpaid time off wiederherstellen, das es "illegal" von employees abgezogen hat, die die Arbeit niedergelegt haben, und "sicherstellen, dass alle Amazon workers in der Zukunft strike können, ohne ihre UPT zu verlieren", so die International Brotherhood of Teamsters am Tuesday in einem release.
Mehr als 100 employees werden unpaid time off wiederhergestellt bekommen, gemäß der National Labor Relations Board settlement.
Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards sagte CNBC in einer statement, dass es im Rahmen der settlement kein wrongdoing admitted hat.
"Während wir glauben, dass unser team diese situations appropriately managed hat, haben wir agreed to resolve the matter, damit wir move forward können und continue working directly with our employees, um Amazon zu einem great place to work zu machen", sagte Hards in einer statement.
Amazon gibt frontline workers eine limited number of hours of unpaid leave, die laut einem internal employee handbook, cited in der NLRB's complaint, für "last minute issues or emergencies" genutzt werden können. Employees risk being fired if they use more UPT hours than they're allotted.
Der NLRB cited several cases seit 2022, wo Amazon employees' UPT deducted hat, nachdem sie walked out. In mindestens einem Fall feared striking workers, sie würden ihren job verlieren, nachdem ihre UPT "went negative" once it was deducted by Amazon, according to the complaint.
"Those deductions and points are unlawfully coercive in and of themselves, because they warn employees that their protected activity is inching them ever closer to termination," schrieb der NLRB.
Die Teamsters, eine der größten labor unions in den USA, hat long sought to organize Amazon warehouse and delivery workers. Sie created an Amazon division in 2021 to support and fund workers at the company in their unionization efforts.
Amazon's frontline employees have attempted to organize their workplaces, with varying levels of success, for over a decade. Only two Amazon facilities, a Staten Island warehouse and a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia, have held successful union drives.
Amazon workers at seven U.S. delivery hubs walked off the job in December 2024 in a strike organized by the Teamsters. The union has said it represents nearly 10,000 Amazon workers, though the company denies this.
Amazon maintains that its employees have the right to choose whether or not to join a union. But the company has faced widespread scrutiny from employees, lawmakers and federal agencies over its labor practices and has been accused of anti-union tactics.
Der NLRB accused Amazon in 2024 of maintaining an "overly broad" attendance policy that "discreetly threatens employees nationwide with consequences up to and including discharge, should they walk out or go on strike," which violates federal labor laws.
Die NLRB complaint stemmed from charges filed by the Teamsters, as well as Amazon workers at facilities in states including New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, Georgia and Minnesota.
According to the settlement, Amazon has agreed not to terminate or "otherwise discriminate against" employees who went over their UPT balance, or were docked UPT hours after they participated in a strike or work stoppage.
Das Unternehmen wird auch post a notice in employee break rooms at "all 1,300 Amazon facilities nationwide" informing workers of their right to organize and the terms of the settlement, so die Teamsters.