Workers' Big Strike: A Look at Amazon's Labor Struggle

In December, Amazon workers across the U. S. went on strike, demanding better pay and conditions. This wasn't just any strike—it was the biggest in Amazon's history. Filmmakers Stephen Maing and Brett Story captured the action in a 10-minute short called Local One. Amazon's size and power make this strike significant. The company, worth over $2. 3 trillion, has faced criticism for its treatment of workers. The strike's roots go back to 2022 when Chris Smalls, an ex-Amazon worker, led a successful unionization drive in a Staten Island warehouse. This was shown in the documentary Union. The strike in December was coordinated with the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), which is now affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The strike happened during the busy holiday season, when many packages were being delivered. The Teamsters' General President, Sean M. O'Brien, blamed Amazon's "insatiable greed" for any delays. Workers chanted slogans like "Amazon Prime, white collar crime! " and "Hey Bezos, the people over profit! " Maing and Story's short film, Local One, shows the solidarity among workers and Amazon's response. It's a follow-up to Union, which won a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024. The filmmakers are committed to documenting the labor movement and hope their work will support workers' efforts. This strike is a continuation of the story shown in Union. It highlights the ongoing struggle for better working conditions and fair pay.