Thousands of Amazon workers are preparing for a strike starting Thursday, days before Christmas, over the tech giant’s refusal to begin negotiations over a contract.

Local union members are preparing their members for picketing and actions outside Amazon facilities in the US.

Amazon was given a Dec. 15 deadline to agree to begin talks with workers at the company’s JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, which in 2022 became the first Amazon warehouse in the U.S. to win a union election.

“Our sisters and brothers at Amazon need our help and support – now is the time to show them what being part of the Teamsters family is all about,” Detroit Teamsters Local 299 wrote in a Facebook post , which announced strike postponements at Amazon’s Detroit-area facility on December 19 and 20.

The Teamsters did not immediately respond for comment. Teamsters local 299’s post was later deleted.

A flyer from Teamsters Local 206 in Portland, Oregon, also announced a picket outside an Amazon warehouse on Thursday and Friday. “Amazon has refused to recognize or negotiate with the Teamsters at its facilities,” it said.

Amazon workers in Staten Island; at DBK4 in Queens, New York; four facilities in Southern California; and drivers at DIL7 in Skokie, Illinois, voted to authorize strike action last week. Workers at two Amazon plants outside Atlanta have threatened to go on strike.

In a statement announcing votes authorizing strikes at four California plants, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said: “The corporate elites who run Amazon are giving workers no choice.” Greedy executives are ripping off thousands of hard-working Americans the edge.

“Amazon rakes in more money than anyone else, they subject workers to injury and abuse at every turn, and they illegally claim not to be the legitimate employer of nearly half of their workforce.

“This rigged system cannot continue to exist. Amazon must be held accountable to workers and consumers alike. If workers are forced to stand on the picket lines, Amazon itself will go on strike.”

Amazon criticized the Teamsters when the strike authorization votes were announced.

Spokeswoman Eileen Hands said in a statement: “The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated and attempted to force Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges.” against the union.”