Amazon settles Teamsters case alleging it retaliated against striking workers

Amazon has reached an agreement with federal labor officials assuring that it will not retaliate against workers participating in strikes. As part of this settlement, the company will restore unpaid time off that it previously withheld from employees who walked off the job. According to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, this move aims to ensure that all Amazon workers can strike in the future without the fear of losing their unpaid time off (UPT). The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reports that more than 100 employees will benefit from the restoration of unpaid leave. Eileen Hards, a spokesperson for Amazon, stated that the company did not admit any wrongdoing in this agreement. "While we believe our team managed these situations appropriately, we've agreed to resolve the matter so we can move forward and continue working directly with our employees to make Amazon a great place to work," Hards explained. Amazon's policy allows frontline workers a limited number of hours of unpaid leave intended for unexpected issues or emergencies, as outlined in an internal employee handbook. However, employees risk termination if they exceed their allotted UPT hours. The NLRB highlighted multiple instances since 2022 where Amazon deducted employees' UPT after they participated in walkouts. In some cases, striking workers expressed concern about job security after their UPT balances turned negative. The NLRB characterized these deductions as coercive, warning employees that their participation in protected activities could lead them closer to termination. The Teamsters, one of the largest labor unions in the U.S., has long been active in organizing Amazon's warehouse and delivery workers, establishing a dedicated division in 2021 to support unionization efforts. Despite attempts at workplace organization over the past decade, only two Amazon locations—one in Staten Island and another Whole Foods store in Philadelphia—have successfully formed unions. A significant strike occurred in December 2024, involving Amazon workers at seven U.S. delivery hubs, organized by the Teamsters. The union claims to represent nearly 10,000 Amazon employees, although the company disputes this figure. Amazon insists that its employees have the choice to join a union, yet it has faced intense scrutiny from employees, lawmakers, and federal agencies regarding its labor practices, including accusations of employing anti-union tactics. The NLRB previously charged Amazon in 2024 with maintaining an overly broad attendance policy that subtly threatened employees nationwide with severe repercussions for participating in strikes, in violation of labor laws. As part of the settlement, Amazon has committed to not terminate or discriminate against employees who exceeded their UPT balance or had hours deducted due to strike participation. Furthermore, the company will display a notice in employee break rooms across all 1,300 facilities in the U.S., informing workers of their rights to organize and the terms of the settlement.