COVINGTON, Ky. — Workers at the Amazon Air Hub in northern Kentucky, the company’s largest air hub, walked off the job Wednesday, July 24, in what the International Brotherhood of Teamsters called a “one-day unfair labor practice strike.”

In a news release, the union said workers were striking over issues concerning “surveillance, discrimination and retaliation for engaging in union activity.”

During the strike, Amazon workers and drivers, along with Teamsters leaders, rallied and spoke about what they said were Amazon’s “numerous violations of federal labor law, mistreatment of workers and refusal to bargain in good faith for a fair contract,” according to the union. 

The union said Amazon drivers from Skokie, Illinois, who are members of Teamsters Local 705, joined the northern Kentucky Amazon workers in solidarity as they extended their own strike against the company. More than 100 Amazon drivers from Skokie have been on strike since June 26.

“We have been on strike and extending our picket line for nearly a month over Amazon’s refusal to recognize our union and come to the table,” said Ebony Echevarria, one of the striking Amazon drivers who traveled from Illinois. “We are not backing down until we get the recognition we are owed. We are proud to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Kentucky, who are embarking on their own fight against Amazon’s illegal conduct.”

The union did not say what workers at the northern Kentukcy Amazon Air Hub are demanding. 

In a statement to Spectrum News 1, Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis said, "Yesterday's event was initiated and attended by mostly outside organizers, and had no impact on our operations or ability to deliver for customers.”

“Our focus is on supporting our teams and delivering for our customers, not monitoring employees. Like most companies, we maintain a level of security within our operations to help keep our employees, buildings, and inventory safe - it would be irresponsible if we didn’t do this. We use technology to help keep our employees safe and to allow them to be more efficient in their jobs,” said Paradis.

Employees began a push to unionize in 2022. Last year, some workers alleged the company had engaged in intimidation to influence employees not to unionize. An Amazon spokesperson said those allegations were “without merit,” and that employees could choose whether to join a union on their own.