In 2024 workers at Amazon’s KSBD air cargo facility found out that under California law they were entitled to a fully paid 10 minute break after working longer than 10 hours. During busy seasons, we routinely got flexed up - made to work an extra hour on top of our already-long shifts. But funnily enough, Amazon was making us clock out for our breaks after ten hours instead of paying us during our entitled breaks. 

Workers began writing and signing cards that read: “I want my third rest break and I want my money back from my third rest breaks.” These cards were wildly popular with KSBD workers. More than 500 of our coworkers signed, and we hand-delivered them in a group to management to emphasize the widespread support. 

This made management crack down on having workers clock out at exactly ten hours. But some people still worked over that limit, and only a few people got their breaks. And there was still no word about their legally entitled backpay. 

Union members took this issue up with the mayor of San Bernardino, winning political support for our cause and getting media attention. Then we staged a one day strike, picketing outside the warehouse during the July Summer Sale Event. And in November, despite severe and significant union busting from Amazon management, we officially formed our union - a majority of us signed union cards - and went on a three-day strike. 

Finally, success. In the Spring of 2025, a court case determined that Amazon owed its workers $100,000 in missed pay. Workers were getting around $2,000-$5,000 each in entitled backpay. So far, about $30,000 has been given back to the workers, with that number expected to climb as workers fight to get their entitlement cases reviewed by Amazon. Although this fight took over a year, it was our most concrete victory to date. 

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Photo credit: KSBD Amazon Teamsters

Socials

@ieamazonworkers (Instagram) (Twitter/X) (Newsletter) 

Articles and Socials Documenting Incident

News Article by KCVR News, News Article by The Sun, News Article by CBS, News Article on the first strike by The Sun, Another News Article by The Sun, Union Instagram: Part 1, Part 2, Win, General Message