SF workers join 'largest strike' against Amazon amid busy holiday shipping season

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The Teamsters union workers began striking at Amazon facilities across the country Thursday morning, including in San Francisco.

The union is calling it the largest strike against the online shopping giant less than a week before Christmas.

Along with San Francisco, facilities with workers on strike include New York City, Atlanta, three locations in Southern California, and one in Skokie, Illinois.

In addition, the Teamsters said local unions would also put up primary picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide.

Workers at the San Francisco Amazon facility at 749 Toland Street started their picket dark and early Thursday morning.

"We want a living wage. We live in one of the most expensive cities in the country. We want to be able to afford to live here," said Josh Black, an Amazon Associate at the warehouse.

They say they also want better benefits, safety protections and for Amazon to recognize the Teamsters Union and negotiate contracts.

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In a news release, the union calls it the "largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history" and says it comes after Amazon has refused to bargain with workers organized with the Teamsters.

"If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon's insatiable greed," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien in a statement. "We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it."

In a statement to ABC News, an Amazon spokesperson said the Teamsters have illegally coerced workers to join the union.

"For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public - claiming that they represent 'thousands of Amazon employees and drivers'. They don't, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative. The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union."

Workers outside of the San Francisco warehouse strongly disagreed, saying that Amazon has been intimidating them.

"A lot of the workers in there have found that when they wear buttons or vests or hats or anything showing that they support the union, the management doesn't treat them the same way," Black said.

But in another statement to ABC News, Amazon says there aren't 10,000 workers striking.

"What you see here are almost entirely outsiders-not Amazon employees or partners-and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters. The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to come and harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous. We appreciate all our team's great work to serve their customers and communities, and are continuing to focus on getting customers their holiday orders."

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The Amazon employees say there are other supporters on-site but maintain that there are Amazon workers in full force that will stay out 24 hours a day.

"We're going to be fighting until we get what we deserve," said Leah Pensler, an Amazon worker.

The Amazon spokesperson said the company has increased the starting minimum wage for workers in fulfillment centers and transportation employees by 20% and in September increased average base wage to $22 per hour.

The announced strike by the Teamsters comes after workers at several Amazon facilities authorized the walkout.

The facility in New York City's Staten Island was Amazon's first-ever unionized warehouse. Workers there have said the company has refused to recognize the union and negotiate a contract after workers there voted to unionize in 2022.

The National Labor Relations Board officially certified the union representing workers at the facility, but Amazon has appealed that ruling.

ABC News contributed to this report.