CANTON ‒ International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 92 members protested outside Amazon’s Canton facility on Thursday as workers went on strike at seven other locations around the country.
The local does not represent any drivers or workers at the Canton facility but is demonstrating in solidarity, President Doyle Baird said. The Teamsters held signs that said “Amazon is unfair” and waved a flag at passing motorists, some of which honked in response.
“Amazon has pretty much forced a strike by refusing to follow the law and bargain with thousands of Amazon workers who have already organized with other Teamster locals across the country,” Baird said.
Amazon responds to union protestors
Amazon contends that the Teamsters are pushing a “false narrative” and do not represent their drivers, who work for third-party contractors, or warehouse employees.
“What you see here are almost entirely outsiders—not Amazon employees or partners—and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters,” according to a prepared statement from Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel.