Thousands of Amazon workers are set to strike on today morning, in the final critical days of the holiday season, after union officials accused the company of failing to negotiate contracts.The planned walkouts pose a challenge to Amazon’s operations as it races to meet customer demands during its busiest period.

However, union-represented facilities make up only about 1% of the retailer’s hourly workforce. In the New York City area alone, Amazon operates multiple warehouses and smaller delivery depots.

Unionized workers in New York City, Skokie, Illinois, Atlanta, San Francisco, and southern California will join the strike, according to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The union is pushing for contracts that ensure better wages and improved working conditions.

The Teamsters claim to represent approximately 10,000 Amazon workers across 10 U.S. facilities, with employees at seven of those locations set to strike.

An amazon spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. The union had set a Sunday deadline for Amazon to initiate negotiations, and workers at several facilities recently voted to authorise the strike.

Despite this, legal experts believe Amazon faces little immediate pressure to negotiate. “It’s been a very successful strategy,” said Jake Rosenfeld, a Washington University sociology professor. “The work continues there, and there is still no contract.”

Amazon has faced worker protests in countries such as Spain and Germany over wages and working conditions.

While critics argue that the company’s focus on speed and efficiency results in workplace injuries, Amazon maintains that it offers industry-leading pay and invests in automation to reduce repetitive stress.

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