• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Retail

Amazon Warehouse Workers Plan Strike During Prime Day 2019

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 8, 2019, 12:17 PM ET

Amazon’s Prime Day is one of its busiest times of the year. And warehouse workers in Minnesota are hoping the spectacle surrounding that day will also shine a spotlight on their issues with the retail giant.

Workers plan to strike for six hours on July 15, the first half of Prime Day 2019, at the fulfillment center in Shakopee, Minn. It’s just one of over 100 warehouses, but it could be a microcosm of larger employee unrest. This is the first time Amazon workers have walked off the job on a notable sale day.

Among the issues being protested is a failure on Amazon’s part to convert more temps to full time employees and production quotas, that organizers say have created safety issues for workers.

Amazon, in a statement to Fortune, called the allegations “baseless.”

“The fact is Amazon offers already what this outside organization is asking for,” the company said. “We provide great employment opportunities with excellent pay – ranging from $16.25-$20.80 an hour, and comprehensive benefits including health care, up to 20 weeks parental leave, paid education, promotional opportunities, and more. We encourage anyone to compare our pay, benefits, and workplace to other retailers and major employers in the Shakopee community and across the country.”

The company added that 90% of Amazon associates at the Shakopee fulfillment center are full time employees. And over 100 temporary workers have converted to full-time status so far this year. Productivity metrics, it says, haven’t changed for over seven months, with the few employees who fail to meet them receiving coaching to help them improve.

Amazon has faced work actions on Prime Day before. In 2018, a group called Amazon En Lucha held a labor action on Prime Day, saying it hoped to gather wider support among employees in Amazon’s other European warehouses. The striking employees were protesting an increase in hours and the elimination of bonuses, among other things.

Prime Day 2019 will be a two-day event running July 15-16. The company says this will be its biggest yet, with over 1 million deals globally.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—The fall and rise of VR: The struggle to make virtual reality get real

—Microsoft is pressing delete on customers’ digital bookshelves

—Jony Ive’s departure means big changes are coming to Apple

—As workplace burnout gets more attention, could more tech be the answer?

—Listen to our new audio briefing, Fortune 500 Daily

Catch up with Data Sheet, Fortune‘s daily digest on the business of tech.

About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

AsiaMitsubishi
How an MBA internship led Mitsubishi to e-commerce platform Yami—and into the U.S. snacks market
By Nicholas GordonMarch 20, 2026
10 hours ago
Melissa Ben Ishay attends The Build Series to discuss Baked By Melissa at AOL HQ on October 14, 2016 in New York City.
C-SuiteFood and drink
Baked by Melissa’s founder was fired at 24. Two decades later, she’s ‘so freaking thrilled’ to step down as CEO
By Eva RoytburgMarch 19, 2026
20 hours ago
Stephan Winkelmann, wearing a dark blue suit, speaks in front of a black background with the Lamborghini logo on it.
RetailAutos
Lamborghini is selling a record number of cars—but tariffs are eating its profits
By Sasha RogelbergMarch 19, 2026
1 day ago
wine barrels
LawFood and drink
Argentines once drank 90 liters of wine a year. Now they’re down to 15 — and 1,100 vineyards have already closed
By The Associated Press and Clara PreveMarch 18, 2026
2 days ago
EconomyRestaurants
McDonald’s newest $3 value menu is sounding an alarm about America’s K-shaped economy
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMarch 17, 2026
3 days ago
amazon
RetailAmazon
Amazon goes from free fast delivery to $14.99 within the hour
By Anne D'Innocenzio and The Associated PressMarch 17, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.