Pilot union Teamsters Local 1224 – the union representing Atlas Air, Southern Air and ABX Air pilots who fly for Amazon Air – yesterday (15 July) said it stood in solidarity with Amazon warehouse workers who had held a strike in Minnesota on Prime Day.
Capt. Michael Russo was on the ground with the striking workers and show the union’s full support as the e-commerce giant held its annual shopping holiday that’s exclusive to Prime subscribers and sees billions of dollars spent online as part of a 36-hour sale.
Atlas Air pilot and president of Teamsters Local 1224, Daniel Wells said: “Pilots who fly for Amazon Air at Atlas Air, Southern Air and ABX Air stand in solidarity with the warehouse workers in Shakopee planning to strike on Prime Day. As we know firsthand, Amazon’s business model too often neglects the well-being of the workers who make the e-commerce giant so incredibly successful.
“We’re proud to be the airline professionals who fly the planes that deliver Amazon’s packages to millions of Americans, but we want to make sure we’re engaged in a sustainable, long-term operation. We hope that Amazon takes seriously these striking workers’ calls for change.”
The pilots have also launched a digital ad campaign that they say raises concerns about how they are being overworked, underpaid and disrespected by their carriers.
The ads direct viewers to a new website launched by the pilots, PilotsDeserveBetter.org – which provides background from the pilots’ perspective about serious issues at their carriers.
