Kentucky Amazon workers to join Illinois Teamsters on strike amid ‘unfair labor practice’ charges

BOONE COUNTY, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis said that less than 40 of the 2,000 full-time employees at the Amazon Air Hub (KCVG) facility took part in Wednesday’s strike.

Paradis said Amazon is “proud to provide full-time employees at KCVG a starting wage of $21—up to $23.50 depending on their shift—and industry-leading benefits, including health care from day one, 401(k) with 50% company match, and up to 20 weeks paid parental leave. We’re always listening and looking for ways to improve, and remain committed to providing our employees with competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and an engaging, safe work experience.”

Amazon officials said in a statement on Wednesday that the strike was “initiated and attended by mostly outside organizers,” and that day-to-day company operations and deliveries were not impacted by the rally.

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Workers with Amazon plan to go on strike at the web giant’s largest air hub on Wednesday.

Situated at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Amazon’s KCVG air Hub facility reportedly began organizing with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) “earlier this year,” according to a news release.

Officials said workers at Amazon’s KCVG Air Hub facility will walk off the job around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, having filed multiple unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against the company for “violations of federal law.”

A rally will be held as workers, drivers, and union Teamsters speak on topics such as “affordable, quality healthcare, safe working conditions, and fair wages.”

IBT leaders also said many Amazon employees “struggle to make ends meet while living paycheck to paycheck.”

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The Kentucky strike was announced as an extension of a separate strike stemming from another Amazon warehouse in Skokie, Illinois which started on June 26, per a news release from Teamsters leaders . KCVG workers will add to the more than 100 drivers currently striking.

The worker’s strike at the KCVG Air Hub will reportedly last one day, per officials.

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