Javier Palomarez, President and CEO of the United States Hispanic Business Council (USHBC), has described the Teamsters' efforts to organize protests against Amazon as a "publicity stunt," claiming they primarily involve paid protesters. Palomarez made this statement in a press release dated December 19.
"Because Teamsters failed to garner enough support to hold an official election..., they've encouraged DSP employees to leave work without legal protections or bargaining power," said Palomarez, President & CEO. "This latest Teamsters saga represents a publicity stunt and abuse of influence. As someone who believes in fair wages and treatment for workers, and as someone who is often a fan of the organization. I am discouraged by the politicization and exploitation present in these protests. Given their close relationship with Senator Bernie Sanders, I am concerned that these protests are the next phase of the Senator's Amazon Workplace report that ultimately fell on deaf ears."
According to AP News, workers affiliated with the Teamsters union initiated a strike in Skokie, Illinois, just outside Chicago. The strike was part of a coordinated national effort demanding better wages and safer working conditions for Amazon employees. The protests aimed to draw attention to hazardous workplace environments and inadequate pay during the busy holiday season.
Palomarez said that the protests have not involved significant numbers of actual Amazon employees. Instead, he said they have been driven by "paid participants" and delivery service provider (DSP) workers, who are independent businesses fulfilling Amazon’s shipping needs. Notably, the only Amazon location in the U.S. with union representation did not participate in these protests.
An Amazon spokesperson told AP News that the picketers were "almost entirely outsiders, not Amazon employees or partners." The company asserted that its operations have not been significantly affected by the strikes and that holiday deliveries remain on schedule.
Palomarez expressed concerns about negative consequences for small businesses due to these protests. He noted that thousands of small businesses involved in the DSP program were impacted, which employs over 400,000 individuals. "The end result is a protest masquerading as a labor strike that ultimately disrupts many small businesses and consumers alike," he said. Palomarez criticized the Teamsters for encouraging DSP workers to abandon their jobs without legal protections or bargaining power, calling this move "irresponsible" with potentially "catastrophic impact." He advocated for celebrating rather than undermining the DSP model through political agendas.
Javier Palomarez serves as President & CEO of USHBC, where he champions small businesses and the Hispanic community through media outreach and strategic partnerships with major corporations. According to USHBC's website, Palomarez has over 20 years of experience in marketing, business development, and public relations. He is recognized as a prominent voice in multicultural consumerism and small business entrepreneurship and frequently appears in media outlets such as CNN, NBC, and The Wall Street Journal.