Over 1,000 Amazon workers in the UK have initiated a walkout today, coinciding with Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year for the retail giant.
The industrial action, organized by the GMB union, stems from a prolonged dispute over pay and working conditions, marking what union officials predict to be the largest day of strikes in Amazon's history, as per to Sky News.
Amazon Workers Spark Global Uprising for Fair Pay
Amazon employees demonstrate for better working conditions in front of the company's premises in Brandizzo, near Turin, March 22, 2021. - 9,500 warehouse workers and 15,000 drivers are on strike for the first time in Italy.
The focal point of the protest is Amazon's warehouse in Coventry, where employees are expected to participate in the walkout. Simultaneously, a demonstration is scheduled outside Amazon UK's head office in London, amplifying the call for improved pay and working conditions.
The GMB union demands a minimum hourly wage of £15 and better overall conditions, citing the ongoing struggles of staff amid a pervasive cost-of-living crisis.
Amazon, a company renowned for its efficiency and scale, has reassured customers that the strike will not impact service. However, the GMB argues that this action will be a turning point in Amazon's history, with workers worldwide inspired to demand their fair share of the company's wealth.
Amanda Gearing, an official from GMB, stated, "Today will go down as a turning point in Amazon's history. Working people who make Amazon's business model possible stand up to demand their share of the company's enormous wealth."
She emphasized that despite Amazon's attempt to downplay the impact on Black Friday, this strike represents the largest day of industrial disruption in the company's history.
The crux of the dispute lies in the recent announcement by Amazon regarding an increase in the minimum starting pay, reaching up to £13 an hour depending on location, effective from April next year.
While Amazon considers this a significant step, the GMB insists on a £15 per hour rate and better working conditions. This misalignment in expectations has fueled the ongoing conflict between the company and its workforce, according to The Guardian.
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German Amazon Workers Renaming Black Friday
Parallel strikes and demonstrations are scheduled across Europe and the United States, with unions asserting that this marks a global movement among Amazon workers.
The solidarity extends to Germany, where Verdi, a trade union, has called for strikes at five Amazon distribution centers on Black Friday. The German union cites a dispute dating back to 2013, focusing on Amazon's refusal to recognize industry-wide pay agreements.
Silke Zimmer, the member for retail on Verdi's governing board, remarked, "Amazon employees have decided to rename Black Friday 'Make Amazon Pay Day'." The call for strikes in Germany indicates a broader international movement, emphasizing the need for fair pay and working conditions at Amazon.
Responding to the strikes in Germany, an Amazon spokesperson downplayed the impact, stating that the majority of colleagues were working as usual and that customer orders would be delivered punctually.
The affected German centers are located in Koblenz, Leipzig, Rheinberg, Dortmund, and Bad Hersfeld.
While Amazon maintains that its pay, benefits, and career opportunities are excellent, the increasing frequency of strikes across multiple countries underscores the growing dissatisfaction among its workforce.
The Black Friday strikes could mark a turning point in the ongoing battle between Amazon and its employees, prompting the company to reevaluate its labor practices on a global scale, Rauters reported.
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