Amazon DSP Strike Support in the Inland Empire
This April, the workers at Battle Tested Strategies (BTS) in Palmdale, California made news nationwide as the first group of drivers and dispatchers to successfully organize and bargain a contract at one of Amazon's contracted delivery driver companies. They organized with Teamsters Local 396 and were the first Amazon Delivery Service (DSP) in the country to ratify a contract.
Two months later, Amazon has still failed to acknowledge the contract that the workers ratified. Amazon’s continued refusal to respect the contract culminated on June 24th, when the workers walked off the job due to Unfair Labor Practices. The workers immediately started their strike line in front of the BTS facility that same day.
On the morning of June 25th, they continued their strike line in Palmdale. That same afternoon, they expanded their picket line to another location in the Inland Empire. Workers from Palmdale came down the 15 freeway to rally the Teamsters Local 63 hall in Bloomington and met with other unions and community supporters, including IE DSA. Shortly after gathering, we started a strike line at ONT1 Amazon Sort Center in Mira Loma, a city that is sprawling with endless warehouses.
By 4:00 PM there were close to 220 people blocking the only entrance the Amazon distribution center had, causing dozens of tractor trailers to line up in the streets for hours. While marching and chanting on the line, the San Bernardino Sheriffs showed up trying to break the line to no avail. Hour-after-hour, the line held strong and not a single truck was able to pass. Amazon, in collaboration with the Sheriff's department, was eventually left with no choice but to redirect the deliveries to other facilities.
Shutting it down
The large two building Sort Center covering a sprawling 600,000 sq. ft. was ostensibly non-operational
With the support of Teamsters Locals 63 and 1932, other local unions such as CWA, more than a dozen IE DSA members, political candidates, and community organizations, the large two building Sort Center covering a sprawling 600,000 sq. ft. was for all intents and purposes non-operational. In the matter of 2 days, through the support of the Teamsters, 84 unionized drivers and dispatchers for a DSP contracted with Amazon shut down a giant warehouse for hours, completely disrupting the logistics company’s business, hitting where it hurts them most - their bottomline.
This extraordinary display of solidarity from 84 dedicated workers and the unwavering support of the community serves as a testament to the power of working-class unity. It highlights the potential for collective action to achieve meaningful victories for the working class. As this strike continues to grow it will set precedent for future labor struggles and pave the way for broader organizing.
With the stakes as high as they are, Inland Empire DSA and DSA Los Angeles requested a donation from the National Labor Commission’s Solidarity Fund to support these workers in their fight. We’re proud to share that the NLC approved a $2,500 donation to the Amazon worker’s strike fund and we hope this endorsement serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to standing in solidarity with workers fighting for their rights.
These workers fought back against one of the biggest corporate bullies on the planet. And their fight is our fight and it’s just getting started! The whole country is watching!
