Teamsters Local Union No. 804 and the Teamsters Amazon National Negotiating Committee have filed a lawsuit against the City of New York, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and Mayor Eric Adams.
The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on December 19, 2024, alleges that the defendants infringed upon the union’s rights to engage in lawful labor activities.
The lawsuit centers on claims that members of Teamsters Local Union No. 804 were unlawfully prevented from picketing peacefully at Amazon facilities in New York City.
According to the complaint, this action violates both the First Amendment and Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which protects employees' rights to organize and engage in collective bargaining.
The plaintiffs contend that when they attempted to picket near Amazon’s facilities, NYPD officers erected barricades without warning or justification, effectively blocking their lawful protest.
The union argues that this interference with their right to assemble peacefully is a breach of constitutional protections. They assert that public streets and sidewalks are traditional public forums where expressive activities should be protected unless narrowly tailored restrictions serve significant government interests without infringing on free speech.
The lawsuit also accuses Amazon of refusing to recognize or bargain with ALU-IBT Local 1, despite its selection as the exclusive bargaining representative by a majority of employees at Amazon’s JFK8 fulfillment center.
The plaintiffs seek several forms of relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, and permanent injunctions to prevent further interference with their First Amendment and NLRA rights.
They also request declarations that the defendants' actions are unlawful and seek compensation for litigation costs and attorneys' fees.
Representing Teamsters Local Union No. 804 are attorneys Thomas J. Lamadrid of Eisner Dictor & Lamadrid P.C., Elena L. Cohen, J. Remy Green, Leena Widdi of Cohen & Green P.L.L.C., and Gideon Orion Oliver. The case is filed under Case ID 1:24-cv-08683.