A federal labor judge ruled that Amazon violated federal law by refusing to recognize the Teamsters union at its San Francisco delivery center, where workers secured majority support. The decision orders the company to collectively bargain with California warehouse employees, marking a significant setback for Amazon's anti-union stance.

The ruling hinges on the Cemex precedent established during the Biden administration, which requires companies to bargain with unions representing a legitimate majority of staff or request an NLRB election. Amazon did neither, according to the judge's findings. This legal framework has supported recent union victories across the company.

Amazon immediately vowed to appeal the order to the NLRB board, which could soon shift toward Trump appointees. The company denies wrongdoing and argues the Cemex precedent itself is unlawful. Senator Elizabeth Warren has criticized the board changes as illegal.

Teamsters organizers have long accused Amazon of employing a 'delay, delay, delay' strategy to avoid collective bargaining commitments. While workers at Staten Island and Philadelphia Whole Foods previously unionized, neither effort resulted in actual bargaining agreements. This ruling represents the first major legal mandate forcing Amazon to negotiate with its workforce.