Amazon workers in Skokie take to the picket line Thursday. (Teamsters Local 705 photos)

Gabriel Irizarry says Amazon talks about caring for workers, but does little to back that up.

“Amazon is one of the biggest, richest corporations in the world,” the driver at Amazon’s Skokie distribution center said. “They talk a big game about taking care of their workers, but when it comes down to it, Amazon does not respect us and our right to negotiate for better working conditions and wages. We can’t even afford to pay our bills.”

Irizarry is part of the warehouse workers and drivers strike against Amazon that started Thursday in Skokie and at six other Amazon distribution centers across the United States.

The Teamsters said the nationwide action follows Amazon’s repeated refusal to follow the law and bargain with thousands of Amazon workers who organized with the labor union.

“If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed,” said Sean O’Brien, Teamsters general president. “We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it.

Striking workers cross an Amazon parking lot.

“These greedy executives had every chance to show decency and respect for the people who make their obscene profits possible. Instead, they’ve pushed workers to the limit and now they’re paying the price. This strike is on them.”

Along with Skokie, Amazon workers hit the picket line in New York City, Atlanta, San Francisco, and three locations in Southern California.

The labor union said Amazon Teamsters at other facilities are prepared to join the striking workers.

Amazon said that customer orders are not being impacted and that almost all of the individuals on the picket lines are not connected to Amazon.

“What you’re seeing at these sites are almost entirely outsiders—not Amazon employees or partners—and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters,” said Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel. “The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous.

“We appreciate all our team’s great work to serve their customers and communities, and thanks to them, we’re not seeing any impact to customers’ orders.”

An Amazon official, who spoke with Chronicle Media, said that in order for there to be union representation, there has to be an election. No union election has taken place at the Skokie facility or any of the other facilities except for New York, according to the official.

A Reddit post seems to back up that statement.

“You have to be a Union member to be represented by the Union and you have to Authorize the strike with a vote. Until that happens these are not strikes they are publicity stunt,” the poster who goes by grasspikemusic said.

“You are talking about paid union shills being moved around the country to hold a fake unauthorized strike in front of non-unionized building for TV cameras that are preventing workers from doing their job that are not represented by Teamsters,” the poster added.

Amazon’s Nantel said that the Teamsters continue to tell a false narrative.

A worker holds a picket sign.

“For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public – claiming that they represent ‘thousands of Amazon employees and drivers’. They don’t, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative. The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union.”

Teamster local unions are also putting up primary picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment centers nationwide. Amazon warehouse workers and drivers without collective bargaining agreements have the legal right to honor the picket lines by withholding their labor, the union said.

“What we’re doing is historic,” said Leah Pensler, an Amazon warehouse worker in San Francisco. “We are fighting against a vicious union-busting campaign, and we are going to win.”

Amazon is the second-largest corporation on the Fortune 500 list.

Teamster officials said that despite being worth more than $2 trillion, the company fails to pay its workers enough to make ends meet.

Nearly 10,000 Amazon workers have mobilized and joined the Teamsters, seeking higher wages, better benefits and safer conditions at work, according to the union.

“I’ve seen the Teamsters win big battles,” sad Dia Ortiz, an Amazon worker in New York. “We’re ready to do what it takes to win this one.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million people in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

An Amazon worker speaks out.

Amazon officials noted that during the past six years the company has increased the starting minimum wage for fulfillment and transportation employees in the United States by 20 percent. In September, they added, the average base wage was increased to $22 per hour ($29 if you include benefits).

Employees also get a Prime membership at no cost, a 401k fund with match, and language classes.

“We’ve been able to do those things quickly and throughout each year because we’re always listening to the feedback from our teams and working to constantly act on it—without an intermediary,” the company said in a statement.

The company also recently announced an incremental investment of more than $2.1 billion in the Delivery Service Providers program going toward safety efforts.

“The fact is, Amazon already offers what many unions are requesting: competitive pay, health benefits on day one, and opportunities for career growth. We look forward to working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work,” the company said.

kbeese@chronicleillinois.com