FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 20, 2026

Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259

STATEMENT ON AMAZON’S 2026 HOLIDAY SEASONAL HIRING ANNOUNCEMENT

(NEW YORK, NY) – Today, Amazon announced plans to hire over 300,000 seasonal, part-time, and full-time workers across its operations network for the 2026 holiday shopping season. The announcement comes as warehouse workers face extreme injury risks, high turnover rates, and relentless productivity tracking during peak volume. In response, Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), issued the following statement:

“Amazon’s attempt to package seasonal perks is nothing but a transparent attempt to gloss over the harsh realities on the warehouse floor. PR headlines about temporary benefits don't lower the extreme injury rates that plague these facilities every peak season, nor do they replace the basic human dignity of fair workloads and safe working conditions. If Amazon truly respected these 300,000 workers, it would stop using high turnover as an economic strategy, abandon its aggressive anti-union tactics, and allow every employee to exercise their legally protected right to organize freely without fear of surveillance or intimidation.”

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

For additional context on worker safety and rights across the supply chain during peak season, see the full RWDSU 2026 Holiday Shopping Season Statement.

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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW, Twitter:@RWDSU, Instagram: @rwdsustrong.