With five days before Christmas, Metro Atlanta area Amazon workers joined a nationwide strike against the online shopping giant , WSB-TV reports.
Commuters were able to see a group picketed outside of the Amazon facility in Alpharetta on Dec. 19 calling for leaders to give credit to their union, the Teamsters.
“We’re trying to get better pay, better benefits, more time off, better winter coat—everything,” worker Gregory Dunn said.
Close to 10,000 Amazon workers at eight facilities across state lines were expected to walk off the job after the deadline of Dec. 15 to start contract negotiations were not met.
In a statement, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said the company has “insatiable greed” and that the strike is another demand for workers to get their respect.
While Amazon claims it has been more than accommodating , pushing fair pay and benefits, in addition to raising the minimum wage by approximately 20% over the last few years, employees feel it’s not enough.