“Inside the Van: A Worker, a Weapon, and the Wake of Amazon’s Rising Union”

Jordyn kept her cell phone mounted. She continued on her drive, ever conscientious of the silent hum of the Rivian Automotive Van 245867C she was assigned for her delivery route. The cozy interior of the van provided a decent amount of room for her 8.5-hour delivery shift. She stretched her neck and back, smiling- wishing that Amazon would provide seats with built-in massage functions. Tough luck J, you know dang well Amazon aint doing that. She chuckled to herself as her cell phone rang…

Laughing 5 hours into her delivery route she hung up the phone with her sorority sister. Another Amazon delivery driver but based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jordyn readjusted in her van. 3 hours could not come quickly enough. She quickly munched on the lunch that Amazon provided the entire warehouse at shift start. She took 3 boxes of packed sandwiches and cookies. I need to stop and use the bathroom she silently wailed.  Working the PM shift definitely had its benefits, most were that Amazon provided all employees with lunch. She did not have as much time to make meals during the week with her schedule.

Parking her van she hopped out of the vehicle, ever cognizant that every move outside of the Vehicle approaching a customer’s private residence was being recorded by Amazon. Every stop, every house, every drop off- recorded.

The recent Amazon policy change that passed on October 28^th 2025 ensured that she and all drivers were aware that Amazon employees do not have the legal right nor jurisdiction to open a customer’s gate/fence or screen door to drop off a package. If the client is not home at a private residence, they have no choice but to deliver it in front of the gate.

As she continued on to her final stop she noted the temperature had plummeted, it was getting chilly. She quickly put her AMAZON reflector jacket on providing all individuals, drivers and customers alike to see her descend from her vehicle.

She hopped out of the car, ever conscious of her reflector jacket shimmering as oncoming traffic drove past her. She looked at the delivery address to confirm and noticed..did they just turn the lights off after they saw me? She paused, took a deep breath and continued walking toward the home.

The home did not have a gate nor fence, so she proceeded to the front door. Her amazon app quietly beeping confirming the homeowner/customer has just been informed that they are the next stop. She continued walking on, releasing a breath, seeing the response from the coldness of the night.

WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING ON MY PRIVATE PROPERTY? The gentleman shouting a Jordyn did not waste a second, he pulled out his legally owned shotgun and aimed it at Jordyn…..

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🟡 The Amazon Union Story: What’s Really Going On?

💡 What is a union?

A union is like a team. It’s when a group of workers come together to speak with one voice so they can talk to their boss as equals. When workers unite, they can ask for things that make their jobs better: fair pay, safer workplaces, and reasonable schedules.

Unions give workers power to negotiate. Instead of one person asking alone, they stand together and that can make a big difference.

📦 What’s happening at Amazon?

Amazon is one of the biggest employers in the world and its workers have been trying for years to form unions.

One of the biggest moments came in Staten Island, New York, at a warehouse called JFK8.There, workers voted yes to form a union called the Amazon Labor Union (ALU)  a historic win that made headlines everywhere.

In 2024, the ALU joined forces with a much larger union, the Teamsters, one of the most powerful worker organizations in America. That partnership gave the movement more experience, resources, and national attention.

But the road hasn’t been easy. At other warehouses, like one in North Carolina, votes to unionize failed. Some workers say Amazon used tactics that discouraged people from voting yes. Amazon, for its part, says it prefers to deal directly with employees rather than through unions.

Across the border in Canada, things got tense too. In Quebec, Amazon’s only union-certified facility saw the company start shutting down warehouses soon after...a move many believe was linked to the union effort.

📊 So, what’s the status right now?

As of today, only one major Amazon warehouse: JFK8, has a successful union in the U.S.

Other warehouses are still organizing, gathering signatures, or challenging lost votes. Amazon continues to resist these efforts, and some of the company’s methods are being reviewed or challenged in court.

Still, the union side isn’t giving up. The ALU’s partnership with the Teamsters has given the movement new energy, and there’s growing public interest in how Amazon treats its workers.

🌍 Why does this matter?

Because Amazon is huge. If more Amazon workers form unions, it could change the way millions of people work ...not just at Amazon, but across the country. Unions can help shape how companies handle pay, safety, breaks, and fairness. But forming one is tough. Workers have to follow strict rules, build support, and often face pressure from their employer.

What’s happening at Amazon is about more than one company... it’s a test of how worker rights work in today’s economy, and whether people can still organize together in giant corporations.

🎒 In a nutshell

Imagine Amazon like a giant school with thousands of students (workers) .Some of those students want to form a club (a union) so they can talk to the principal about lunch, homework, and classroom rules.

One class... the one in Staten Island.... voted yes and made their club official. Other classes are still trying, but some votes didn’t pass or were blocked. The school doesn’t love the idea, so it’s making things harder.

But now, that student club has teamed up with a bigger national club ....the Teamsters ...which means more support, more voices, and maybe more wins ahead.

So far: one victory, many battles, and a movement that’s still growing.

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Jordyn kept her voice loud, indicative of her DISCOMFORT.

SIR. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE AMAZON VEHCILE PARKED OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE AND THE NOTIFICATION YOU RECEIVED...AND MY VERY VISIVLE AMAZON VIZER AND UNIFORM, I AM HERE TO DELIVER A PACKAGE THAT YOU ORDERED FROM MY COMPANY.

He sneered- holding his shotgun, how come you driving around so late at night if you are with Amazon?

SIR, I AM ON MY DESIGNATED DELIVERY ROUTE, YOUR HOUSE IS THE SECOND TO LAST ON MY ROUTE. I CANNOT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE THIS IS PEAK SEASON. WE HAVE MANY DELIVERIES AND YOU ARE A PRIME MEMBER... GRANTING YOU OVERNIGHT DELIVERY... REQUIRING DRIVERS WORK ROUND THE CLOCK.... SIR! I AM GOING TO DEMAND THAT YOU LOWEER YOUR GUN SO THAT I CAN DO MY JOB….

Jordyn called HR, and started her report. She jumped on the Slack channel and began going OFF.

On the phone with her team lead, she cried-- Listen I need a 15! I need a 15!! She continued. Heart racing… she continued … repeating. I. NEED. A. 15. ….

She sat in her Rivian modeled Van, listening to the humming of the engine… go quiet.