Amazon workers in several locations launched a strike Thursday morning as their union, Teamsters, said the e-commerce giant has repeatedly refused to negotiate with tღhem.

Warehouse workers and drivers based out of seven fulfillment centers decided to picket after Teamsters unsuccessfully urged Amazon (AMZN) to start the bargaining process more than 20 times, union spokeswoman Kara Deniz told Investopedia. Workers are seeking better wages and benefits, and safer job conditions, Teamsters said.

Teamsters took action as Amazon’s business ramps up ahead of the holidays, organizing pickets at facilities in New York City, Atlanta, California and Skokie, Ill., the union said.

“We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. "They ignored it.”

A Teamsters statement cited the involvement of "thousands" of Amazon workers. Amazon disputed that workers looked to the union for representation, and said early Thursday that the strike hasn't disrupted operations.

“What you see here are almost entirely outsiders—not Amazon employees or partners,” Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said. “They were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to come and harass and intimidate our team, ✃which is inappropriate and dangerous.”

Amazon workers said the company hasn’t done enough to make their jobs safe and financially stable, with one noting that she struggled to pay her bills in a Teamsters press release. The company said in a statement to Investopedia that it has raised starting wages by 20% for fulfillment and transportatio♈n employees over the past six year, and invested billions in safety initiatives. 

Starbucks (SBUX) workers are also considering ramping up their unionization campaign this winter. Baristas voted Tuesday to authorize a strike, according to a group organizing them, Starbucks Workers United.

Amazon workers in Staten Island wereꦯ the first to vote to join ꦡa union in 2022. Some campaigns to organize other Amazon sites have come up short. 

Amazon sales 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:surged to new records from the week leading into Black Friday through Cyber Monday, the company said.