Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR) Shares Acquired by Principal Financial Group Inc.LIVE Luke Littler vs Ian White - World Darts Championship: Live score and set-by-set updates as teenage sensation takes on world No 57 at the Ally Pally for spot in fourth round By ADRIAN BISHOP and KIERAN GILL AT THE ALEXANDRA PALACE Published: 21:40, 28 December 2024 | Updated: 22:02, 28 December 2024 e-mail View comments Advertisement Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score and set-by-set updates as Luke Littler takes on Ian White in the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship. 21:59 Littler is here! By Adrian Bishop Pitbull's Green Light blasts through the speakers as the crowd are sent into pandemonium upon the arrival of Luke Littler. The song featured as the official theme for WrestleMania 33 so its an apt choice for the WWE superfan who is aiming to put on a main-event worthy show here tonight. 21:53 Fans are baying for Littler at the Ally Pally By Adrian Bishop Just twelve months after his incredible run to the final on this stage Luke Littler is back in action this evening as he looks to one-up his achievement in 2024. While the teenager still faces significant tests, including the man facing him tonight, its hard to argue that he isn't the face of the sport at this point. Fans have packed out the Ally Pally and they'll be hoping Littler is in the kind of form he demonstrated against Ryan Meikle last week. 21:48 Meet Luke Littler's next opponent Ian White: 54-year-old used to play Littler's GRANDAD before the teenage sensation was even born By Adrian Bishop It's not often that an athlete can claim they've taken on their opponent's grandfather, but such is the case with Ian White ahead of his clash against Luke Littler . Littler, 17, booked his place in the third round of the World Darts Championship after a victory over Ryan Meikle last Sunday - as he produced a stunning 140.91 average in the final set to win. In doing so, he set up a clash with White - who beat European champion Ritchie Edhouse in the second round - which will take place on Saturday night. CLICK BELOW TO READ MORE: I used to beat Littler's grandad at darts - now I'm facing the teen! Littler, 17, booked his place in the third round of the World Darts Championship after a victory over Ryan Meikle - as he produced a stunning 140.91 average in the final set to win. Mail Online 21:44 Michael van Gerwen is through to Round 4 By Adrian Bishop Luke Littler's return is now just minutes away so let's take a look at what just transpired on the stage, shall we? Michael van Gerwen has been far from his best this year, and he faltered at times in his clash with Brendan Dolan. Ultimately though the three-time world champion got it done when it mattered and booked his place in the last 16 after seeing off a comeback from the Northern Irishman. 21:40 Good evening! By Adrian Bishop And welcome to Mail Sport's coverage of Luke Littler's third round clash with Ian White at the World Darts Championship. In his opening match last weekend Littler demonstrated that he is deserving of his status at the bookies' favourite, recording a record-breaking average in the final set of his win over Ryan Meikle. Tonight, The Nuke will look to book his place in the last 16 when he faces White, a darts veteran who previously played against Littler's grandfather. Stick around, get yourself comfortable and follow along as we bring you all the news and updates in what promises to be an exciting showdown at the Alexandra Palace. 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Edmontonian Jibril Ibrahim recalls his sticker shock when he discovered sending medicine to his cousin in Somalia during the pandemic would cost him $400. It's just one example of the exorbitant fees Somali-Canadians pay to send urgently needed packages and money depended on by loved ones in a country recovering from decades of civil war. One reason why the cost is so high is that many houses lack formal addresses, Ibrahim said, which is also a massive barrier to governance, security and economic growth. The dilemma inspired Ibrahim to apply his know-how as a professional engineer and community advocate in collaboration with other Somali-Canadians to develop a system that assigns properties in Somalia with a standardized, unique and verifiable address. Now, three years later, Karaar Digital Address (KDA), Ibrahim's Edmonton-based startup has pledges of support from several states in Somalia and has run multiple test pilots in in the country. KDA has also established offices in Minneapolis and Mogadishu. "Now you have a system in place on the ground that will deliver those things to people in need," Ibrahim said in an interview earlier this month. "This will be significant in terms of people helping their loved ones back in Somalia, but also for Somali-Canadians who want to do business in Somalia." Why Somali Canadians are footing more of the bill for the climate crisis in Africa When civil war broke out in 1991, Somalia's postal system collapsed. Attempts to revive it have been hindered by the lack of a robust road system typically used to generate addresses, Ibrahim said. That's where KDA comes in. Users simply download the app to claim an address that is navigable via Google or Apple maps. The address is finalized by a team that visits the home to verify the identity of residents. 'Game-changer' Ibrahim expects KDA's system to transform life in Somalia. He said the platform can help governments register voters and collect taxes which would improve service delivery and infrastructure, while the collection of census data could pinpoint where resources should be distributed, and fine-tune emergency responses. Jibril Ibrahim says KDA's platform is designed to transform governance, security and the economy in Somalia while increasing opportunities for Somali-Canadians to do business abroad. (Submitted by Jibril Ibrahim) Establishing the system would also usher in a wave of new opportunities for entrepreneurs and job-seekers, according to Ibrahim, in areas including e-commerce, finance, transportation, deliveries, logistics and telecommunications. "This will be a game-changer in terms of how business is done in Somalia and the rest of the East African countries as well," Ibrahim said, adding that KDA has developed similar systems for neighbouring countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and South Sudan. An increase in personal wealth and government services has another advantage: a reduced reliance on money sent from abroad, meaning it could dramatically reduce the financial burden on members of the Somali diaspora worldwide. 'Gold mine' of opportunity The Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce says KDA's venture highlights how Alberta is well-positioned to capitalize on business opportunities in Africa given the province's rapidly growing population of African heritage. "They know the potential, opportunities and environment — the needs and pain points," said Kemi Bolatito-Bello, head of the chamber's Edmonton chapter. "Opportunities in Africa are a gold mine because the advancement of technology is still very, very small. It's a very green space for those that want to go in early and invest." Bolatito-Bello herself has founded two businesses in Edmonton since immigrating from Nigeria with her family in 2015. Her latest venture, Scooly — an AI global immigration marketplace that connects students and immigrants to legal visa experts — was developed with the Alberta Catalyzer, a program for tech entrepreneurs. Kemi Bolatito-Bello described the business opportunities in Africa as a gold mine and win-win scenario for Canadians and Africans alike. (Submitted by Scooly) Bolatito-Bello praised the efforts of the Alberta government to attract investment and open up the province to international opportunity, while investing heavily in the technology sector. She hopes to see the province increase representation on the ground in Africa, to maximize business opportunities. She also wants the government to invest more in private companies so they don't move elsewhere to access funding to expand. She said doing business in Africa is a win-win scenario, fostering the development of African countries by providing well-paying jobs and transferring knowledge while also cutting the cost of labour for Albertan companies. Alberta in Africa Alberta's trade with Africa in 2023 totalled nearly $859 million, Alberta's minister of jobs, economy and trade, Matt Jones said in an emailed statement to CBC News. Top export markets were Morocco at $156.3 million and Nigeria at $140.8 million. Jones said between 2022 and 2023, Alberta's exports to Africa increased by more than 38 percent and Alberta engages with more than 90 percent of African countries. "We are working with Alberta's various communities and their businesses to open new pathways for Alberta businesses in Africa," Jones said. "Alberta is actively engaging with markets in Africa by fostering trade partnerships and promoting investment opportunities through targeted missions and trade agreements."
The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the Hawk air defence system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defence officials acknowledged that the US Defence Department may not be able to send all of the remaining 5.6 billion dollars (£4.5 billion) in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Mr Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many US and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he will not provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about 4.35 billion dollars (£3.46 billion). Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky decide it is time to negotiate. One senior defence official said that while the US will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until January 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about 1.2 billion dollars (£0.9 billion) remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the US will have provided more than 64 billion dollars (£50.8 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.Having concluded the nonconference portion of its schedule with four consecutive wins, No. 15 Houston will open Big 12 play with something of a clean slate. The Cougars (8-3) resemble the squad that claimed the regular-season Big 12 title in their first year in the league last season as they head to Stillwater, Okla., to face Oklahoma State on Monday. Their balanced offense was on full display in an 87-51 home victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Dec. 21, with Emanuel Sharp (18 points), L.J. Cryer (17), Terrance Arceneaux (13) and Milos Uzan (12) sharing the load as Houston made a season-high 14 3-pointers. The offensive display provided a complement to the Cougars' usual brand of stifling defense and tenacious rebounding, and Houston coach Kelvin Sampson found it worth celebrating for a team whose shortcomings are too often overanalyzed. "You can't always just focus on things you've got to get better at," Sampson said. "You'll never focus on the things you're good at." Oklahoma State will represent a step up in weight class, with the depth and athleticism to challenge the Cougars' emerging offense. That comes as no surprise for the Cougars, who quickly became accustomed to the rigors of the Big 12, especially when the stakes are highest on the road. "Being able to get shots at the goal and taking care of the ball in the hostile environment is always going to be a challenge when you go on the road in this league," Sampson said. "That's what we'll be challenged with." The Cowboys (8-3) improved to 5-0 at home with their 86-74 victory over Oral Roberts on Dec. 22. Senior forward Abou Ousmane paired a season-high 19 points with a team-high seven rebounds in the victory, further validating the need for Oklahoma State to run more of its offense through its second-leading scorer. Ousmane averages 12.2 points per game for the Cowboys, second to Marchelus Avery (13.0). "It helps when we get him the basketball," first-year Cowboys coach Steve Lutz said of Ousmane. "We don't throw him the basketball enough. To his credit, he runs in transition, he seals for the most part darn near every time and our guards have to do a better job as they come across halfcourt of getting their head up and reading where the big is and (determining) can we get him the basketball. "That's going to be our quickest and best opportunity to score. We've got to continue to focus on throwing the ball inside to him." Oklahoma State enters conference play with momentum, having won four of its last five games. And while nonconference losses to Florida Atlantic, Nevada and Oklahoma proved disappointing, the setbacks showed the Cowboys have room for improvement. "We still have a lot of work to do," Lutz said. "We still have a lot of growth. I don't ever like to look ahead at the beginning of the season and say our record should be X and X. I try to focus more on the day-to-day progress of our team, and there are days where I think we make progress and days where we slip back a little bit. "We've got to continue with the process and get better and better each day." --Field Level Media
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Kuwait City: India and Kuwait, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Gulf nation, reaffirmed their commitment to deepen their partnership, marked by the establishment of a Joint Commission on Cooperation (JCC) as an institutional mechanism to enhance bilateral ties. Both nations also reaffirmed their strong bilateral partnership by emphasising on expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, investments, energy, defence, and technology. Prime Minister Modi concluded his two-day visit to Kuwait and has emplaned for New Delhi. This was the first visit by an Indian PM to the Gulf nation in 43 years. “The two sides welcomed the recent establishment of a Joint Commission on Cooperation (JCC) between India and Kuwait. The JCC will be an institutional mechanism to review and monitor the entire spectrum of the bilateral relations between the two countries and will be headed by the Foreign Ministers of both countries. To further expand our bilateral cooperation across various fields, new Joint Working Groups (JWGs) have been set up in areas of trade, investments, education and skill development, science and technology, security and counter-terrorism, agriculture, and culture, in addition to the existing JWGs on Health, Manpower and Hydrocarbons. Both sides emphasised on convening the meetings of the JCC and the JWGs under it at an early date,” a joint statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs stated. “Both sides noted that trade has been an enduring link between the two countries and emphasised on the potential for further growth and diversification in bilateral trade. They also emphasised on the need for promoting exchange of business delegations and strengthening institutional linkages,” it added. Recognising that the Indian economy is one of the fastest-growing emerging major economies and acknowledging Kuwait’s significant investment capacity, both sides discussed various avenues for investments in India. The Kuwaiti side welcomed steps taken by India in making a “conducive environment for foreign direct investments and foreign institutional investments” and expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities in different sectors, including technology, tourism, healthcare, food security, logistics and others. They recognised the need for closer and greater engagement between investment authorities in Kuwait with Indian institutions, companies and funds. They encouraged companies of both countries to invest and participate in infrastructure projects. They also directed the concerned authorities of both countries to fast-track and complete the ongoing negotiations on the Bilateral Investment Treaty. Both sides discussed ways to enhance their bilateral partnership in the energy sector. “While expressing satisfaction at the bilateral energy trade, they agreed that potential exists to further enhance it. They discussed avenues to transform the cooperation from a buyer-seller relationship to a comprehensive partnership with greater collaboration in upstream and downstream sectors. Both sides expressed keenness to support companies of the two countries to increase cooperation in the fields of exploration and production of oil and gas, refining, engineering services, petrochemical industries, new and renewable energy. Both sides also agreed to discuss participation by Kuwait in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve Programme,” MEA stated. India and Kuwait also welcomed the signing of the MoU in the field of Defence that will provide the required framework to further strengthen bilateral defence ties, including through joint military exercises, training of defence personnel, coastal defence, maritime safety, joint development and production of defence equipment. The two nations also expressed interest in pursuing deeper collaboration in the area of technology including emerging technologies, semiconductors and artificial intelligence. They discussed avenues to explore B2B cooperation, furthering e-Governance, and sharing best practices for facilitating industries/companies of both countries in the policies and regulation in the electronics and IT sector. At the invitation of Emir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, PM Modi paid an official visit to Kuwait on December 21-22. This was his first visit to Kuwait and also the first by an Indian PM in 43 years. He also attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait on Saturday as the ‘Guest of Honour’ of Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Prime Minister was received by Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, at the Bayan Palace on Sunday, where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome. PM Modi expressed his deep appreciation to Kuwait Amir for conferring on him the highest award of the State of Kuwait ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer.’ The leaders exchanged views on bilateral, global, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. The two sides also recalled the centuries-old historical ties rooted in shared history and cultural affinities. They noted with satisfaction the regular interactions at various levels which have helped in generating and sustaining the momentum in the multifaceted bilateral cooperation. Both sides emphasised sustaining the recent momentum in high-level exchanges through regular bilateral exchanges at Ministerial and senior-official levels. (With inputs from ANI)On December 18, incoming President Donald Trump hosted Elon Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. After years of tension, Bezos was eager to build a closer relationship with Trump. He had just donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration, praised him for his “energy around reducing regulation ,” and also kept the Washington Post from endorsing a presidential candidate, which showed his willingness to deal with Trump on good terms. But as they enjoyed their luxurious dinner, Amazon workers were finalizing plans for the largest worker action across the country in the company’s history, set to begin the following day. This image encapsulates what Trump’s second presidential term could look like: on one side, billionaires strategizing how to maximize their profits and erode workers’ rights; on the other, a precarious and multi-ethnic working class organizing for higher wages, better conditions, and a voice in the workplace. As an Amazon worker said in an interview with Left Voice: “With Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Jeff Bezos together... problems.” At the picket line at Amazon’s JFK8 facility in Staten Island workers spoke with us about the grueling conditions in the logistics giant’s warehouses. pic.twitter.com/SFpTPqTxiI Far from the comfort of Trump’s estate, under adverse weather conditions, Amazon workers risked everything. In NYC, employees at warehouses in Queens and Staten Island braved the snow and cold, as well as the fear of putting their job at risk during the busy lead-up to Christmas, to walk out and protest. They would soon be joined by baristas at hundreds of Starbucks locations across the country — also fighting for their first contract — in their “strike before Christmas.” In New York, hundreds of community members joined workers in the snow at the picket line — even at the isolated JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island. Workers, students, local activists and tenant organizers, many wearing keffiyehs, stood in solidarity with Amazon workers in their struggle against the multi-trillion dollar corporate giant. A JFK8 Amazon worker with four years at the warehouse shared, “It’s not easy to be here... When I heard about the strike, I was anxious. But seeing all of you united for one common cause, I have to say: it’s worth the risk.” A new layer of rank-and-file workers took the lead in sustaining these walkouts. Despite a massive police presence and harassment from the company, many stood up to managers and police, found creative ways to endure the long hours on picket lines, and built community by sharing their frustrations and aspirations for change. These walkouts were part of a national action by drivers and warehouse workers at multiple Amazon warehouses, including DGT8 in Atlanta, DFX4, DAX5, and DAX8 in Southern California, DCK6 in San Francisco, and DIL7 in Skokie, Illinois. Additionally, on December 23, workers at Amazon’s Garner, North Carolina facility, a massive warehouse employing over 5,000 people, filed for a union election under the Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity & Empowerment (CAUSE), independent of Teamsters. There is growing support among the public for Amazon workers. In a national poll from 2022 after the Amazon Labor Union victory at JFK8, 75 percent agreed that Amazon workers “need union representation in order to have job security, better pay, and safer working conditions.” Even the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act, signed into law by New York Governor Hochul during the strike, reflects this growing support. The grueling conditions and high injury rates at the company can no longer be ignored. You might also be interested in: Essential Workers at Amazon Are Rising Up for the Whole Working Class Despite the strike’s limits, the action built important momentum toward future struggles against Amazon. Workers got a glimpse of the impact of their fight on the working class as a whole. As one worker noted, “This is just the first wave, the first push for the contract we rightfully deserve.” Before delving into the specifics, it’s essential to understand the context surrounding these walkouts. Amazon is the second-largest private employer in the U.S., where only 6 percent of private-sector workers are unionized. The company stands out with its union-busting tactics and high turnover, replacing 3 percent of its workforce weekly . However, Amazon’s impunity is increasingly being challenged. Since the historic unionization at JFK8 Fulfillment Center in Staten Island over two years ago, Amazon has been stalling the union recognition and contract negotiations. But, despite some setbacks, organizing continues to grow. The ALU’s affiliation with Teamsters and recent unionization attempts among drivers have bolstered these efforts, though not without contradictions. According to the Teamsters , 10,000 of Amazon’s 800,000 employees are unionized. While still a minority, Amazon cannot return to the “pre-ALU era” without a massive crackdown on union organizing. Yet, this is not enough to force Amazon to negotiate a contract. Breaking the “factory dictatorship” at Amazon remains a herculean task. Large-scale actions have not yet materialized. A JFK8 worker noted, “They said unionizing was impossible. Look where we are now. That day [of a full strike and a contract] will come.” “[Amazon] is acting like a Dracula, sucking the blood of people.” As workers at Amazon in Staten Island, New York geared up to take on the logistics giant, we asked workers, part of @amazonlaborunion_local1 what it was like to work in the warehouses and what this fight for a first contract meant to them. Follow us for more Amazon strike coverage! The recent actions did not significantly disrupt business but delayed some deliveries. For Teamsters President Sean O’Brien and the union leadership, one of the main goals was media attention as part of building public pressure on Amazon. Stories of grueling conditions reached millions, and Christmas package delays became a national topic. For the Teamsters leadership, this action primarily revolved around gaining union recognition and shaping the future of organizing efforts at Amazon. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) also represents hundreds of thousands of UPS delivery workers. Confronted with competition from Amazon’s delivery operations, the union aims to recruit new members from Amazon to expand its dues base and strengthen its influence over both competing corporations. In essence, the Teamsters are wagering that this strike could serve as a foundation for a larger, more protracted effort to organize Amazon across the United States, ultimately as a strategy for self-preservation. Last year, O’Brien diverted a potential strike at UPS that could have significantly impacted working-class organizing. While celebrated by many, the contract agreement did not eliminate the huge gap in compensation and working conditions between drivers and warehouse workers. This year’s actions at Amazon allowed O’Brien to position his leadership as “more combative”. In the run-up to the presidential elections, O’Brien spoke at the Republican National Convention and is already playing an advisor role to the Trump administration. In efforts to align the working class with the Republican Party, The Teamsters president wrote in an article that he expects the GOP to become the “the working-class party.” In an obvious demonstration of the class character of the new administration, Bezos is also seeking to expand his influence in the coming years. This positioning by O’Brien has little to do with empowering workers. While O’Brien tries to rail the working class into a far-right program led by Trump, it’s crucial to have a class independence perspective, independent from both political parties. You might also be interested in: Trump’s Success, the Democrats’ Failure, and the Fight for a Working-Class Alternative For the local leaderships — Amazon Labor Union, Amazonians United, CAUSE, for example — the goals and realities differ significantly. The organizations within the warehouses aim to expand their organizing efforts, engage more rank-and-file members, and strengthen the sectors capable of halting production. As we wrote in a previous article : the current strike at Amazon is about a lot more than just the Teamsters, union recognition, or winning a first contract. Indeed, beyond the interests of the IBT leadership, this strike is fundamentally an expression of the frustration of the hundreds of thousands of Amazon warehouse workers and drivers, who, like millions of other precarious workers across the country, were forced to risk their lives working through the pandemic but received nothing in return except runaway inflation. At JFK8, while only a minority of workers walked out, deeper support for the action was evident. The backing of 700 workers who authorized the strike and the dozens of workers who took on roles during the walk out and picket lines, signals a growing base of rank-and-file organization. Over decades of neoliberalism, unions have been weakened and the working class has become increasingly fragmented, which Amazon’s high turnover and union-busting tactics exemplify. Yet change is underway. As JFK8 worker Eulalia said before the strike, “[the union] is like family, I definitely have the support I need. You don’t get that in Amazon, definitely. Amazon treat us like slaves.” On the picket line, workers coordinated food, picketing shifts, and solidarity. At a worker’s gathering on Sunday, many shared personal stories. One worker said, “It gets cold at night, but we stay together, keep each other warm, and laugh. They don’t care about us, but we will make them care.” Amid widespread anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies , picket lines featured chants in multiple languages, and flyers were distributed in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Creole. Workers united beyond national origin as one fist against Amazon. In another display of solidarity, Staten Island JFK8 workers supported the Queens DBK4 picket lines, and DBK4 drivers joined the JFK8 walkout in the midst of a snow storm at midnight. On December 24, DBK4 drivers also joined Starbucks workers on a picket line in SoHo. Amazon workers also found out quickly that their struggle was not only against the boss, but that they would also be confronting the police, who had come, at the request of Amazon, to suppress the pickets. At JKF8, dozens of NYPD officers station themselves outside the warehouse to guarantee the free flow of vehicles in and out of the facility. In the case of DBK4, the police even set barricades to avoid trucks being blocked. Police arrested Jorgeasyn Cardenas , a driver from the facility, for simply showing solidarity with the picketers, and Anthony Rosario , a UPS driver who had turned out to show support for the strikes. As if this was not enough, at the DKB4 facility, Amazon flooded the food and warming station with freezing cold water in order to disrupt the pickets. One of the highlights of these strikes was the community support. At JFK8, which is isolated from residential areas, over one hundred people organized by the ALU Community Support committee joined the picket line at critical moments. Many community and left organizations were also a key component of holding the picket line. CUNY students and faculty, many of whom work at Amazon, consistently supported the strike. The unity among workers and students is a powerful example that needs to be expanded in future strikes. As CUNY students organized with Left Voice said : “Many students are workers and so their interests are deeply tied to the fate of the whole working class. The alliance between workers and students helps both and our fates are linked in the battle for a better world.” You might also be interested in: CUNY Stands With Amazon and Starbucks Workers on Strike Organizing and mobilizing the rank-and-file remains the major challenge. Breaking the culture of fear imposed by the company and fostering self-organization are key. Together, drivers and warehouse workers need to develop their own spaces to strategize, discuss, and decide each major step in their union struggle as a united force. This requires organizing from below; It’s the workers’ jobs and livelihoods that are on the line, so they deserve to be the protagonists of their struggle. Local organizing efforts must avoid normalizing top-down Teamsters tactics and instead focus on empowering workers through direct action and broad participation. Mike, a JFK8 worker who has over four years at Amazon and has multiple injuries, said, “This won’t stop until we get everything we deserve. Talk to coworkers, family, and supporters. Make this grow because, at the end of the day, we will win.” The strike is over, but the fight must continue. Continuing to expand rank and file strength will be essential to force Amazon to negotiate a first contract. If there is any retaliation against workers, it must be met with a wide, democratic campaign defending their rights to organize. A victory for Amazon workers will be a victory for the whole working class. Amazon Labor Movement Strike TeamstersNick Kyrgios says positive tests for duo are ‘disgusting’ and ‘a horrible look’
