Amazon New York Union Ratifies Affiliation With Teamsters — Update

By Colin Kellaher

Amazon.com's first labor union has ratified a plan to join forces with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the largest labor groups in the U.S.

The Teamsters on Tuesday said Amazon Labor Union voted more than 98% in favor of the affiliation, which the two sides announced earlier this month.

The affiliation gives Amazon Labor Union workers added resources and representation in its contract demands from Amazon more than two years after warehouse workers in New York voted to organize.

ALU-International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1, which would be newly chartered, would represent roughly 5,500 Amazon warehouse workers at JFK8 in Staten Island and would have jurisdiction for Amazon warehouse workers across New York's five boroughs, the Teamsters said.

Earlier this year, Amazon Labor Union was reportedly fighting to survive amid leadership disputes and financial restraints. The Wall Street Journal reported that the union's funding had decreased since 2022 and at the time it hadn't collected mandatory fees from workers without a contract with Amazon. Amazon reportedly spent about $14 million in 2022 on labor consultants to oppose the union's efforts.

Amazon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the deal.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 18, 2024 12:40 ET (16:40 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.