A major strike against Amazon, considered the largest in American history, began at 6 a.m. EST this morning, just days before the holiday season. With many shoppers relying on last-minute deliveries, the timing of the strike is strategic.

The Teamsters Union has announced that the strike will begin at Amazon facilities in New York, Illinois, California and Georgia. Local unions plan to picket hundreds of fulfillment centers across the country, including possibly in Metro Detroit. As a result, concerns are growing about possible delays in parcel delivery in the region.

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Impact of strike on holiday shopping in Metro Detroit

In Detroit, some workers at the Amazon shipping facility in Woodward joined the demonstration and walked off the job at 6 a.m. this morning. The strike is taking place in seven different locations, including New York City, Atlanta, San Francisco and just outside Los Angeles and Chicago, as Christmas is just a week away.

The strike is described as the largest strike as 10,000 workers take part in it across the country. The Teamsters Union says local fulfillment centers across the country will likely join the picket lines in support.

The strike came after the Amazon union demanded a meeting at the bargaining table by December 15. So now they’re striking against the $2 trillion company, right at the busiest time of the year.

Teamster member Ash Brooks: “This is important because as workers we need to make sure our voices are heard. This has been a long time coming and we need to show Jeff Bezos and the entire Amazon corporation and the rest of the world that our voices matter,” WXYZ Detroit reported.

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Amazon ensures timely deliveries to customers

Despite the strikes, Amazon assured customers that their packages were on their way and would be delivered on time. The company said the Teamsters make up only 1 percent of Amazon employees, so there should be no delays or disruptions to deliveries. In a statement, the company said: “The Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to force Amazon employees and third-party drivers to provide rides, which is illegal…”

The Amazon factory in Detroit is not involved in the Teamsters strike, but rather belongs to the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), which has represented the factory since the beginning of the year. The APWU currently represents 450 employees at the Detroit location.

Kevin Moore, President of Joint Council #43, said, “You should call Amazon and say why you aren’t treating your workers fairly.” We order packages every day when you come to my house. Pay workers a fair wage. I know how much money you make.”

He continued: “Right now a non-union driver is coming here for Amazon and we are here to slow down that traffic. Any union shipper that comes here when you see a UPS come by doesn’t cross that line. He won’t cross the line,” as WXYZ Detroit reports.

Moore said 40 percent of packages nationwide are shipped via UPS, but the company assures that package deliveries will not be interrupted during the holidays. However, it was a mystery to Moore why the delay was not possible, given that union labor would be on strike today and tomorrow and even beyond if things did not progress.