NEW YORK — One of the nation’s largest union is aiming to unionize Amazon workers. Representatives from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a union that represents 1.4 million workers, voted on Thursday to make organizing Amazon workers a priority.
In a statement, the union claimed Amazon is exploiting its employees through what Teamsters National Director for Amazon Randy Korgan called, "dehumanizing, unsafe and low-pay jobs."
“In my more than two decades of service as Teamsters General President, I’ve yet to see a threat quite like the one Amazon presents to hardworking people, small businesses, the logistics industry and our nation’s middle class,” Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said in a press release.
The resolution (which you can read in full here) means the Teamsters will create a division focused on solely on its Amazon efforts and set aside money for the cause as well.
Amazon has not yet responded to a request for comment.
According to the Associated Press, there's been no successful unionization in Amazon's 26-year history. Amazon is the nation's second largest employer.
The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.