10/2/2023 0 Comments Amazon strike days![]() “This escalation will now see workers in two further fulfilment centres asked to have their say on downing tools and walking out to deliver pay justice.” Amanda Gearing, senior organiser at the union, said: “Amazon workers are fighting back against a pay rise of pennies from one of the world’s wealthiest corporations. We also work hard to provide great benefits, a positive work environment and excellent career opportunities.”Īmazon announced earlier this year that it would close three of its UK warehouses but it is currently building two more, including one in Peddimore, in the West Midlands, that is expected to create 1,400 jobs, which the mayor, Andy Street, has welcomed as “a massive vote of confidence”.It came after a second pay rise from the internet retailer in 12 months was dismissed by the GMB as “an insult”. ![]() “Over the past seven months, our minimum starting pay has risen by 10%, and by more than 37% since 2018. The strikers have received the support of the local MP, Taiwo Owatemi, as well as US-based union activists who have been pressing for recognition at Amazon sites.Īmazon, which does not voluntarily recognise or negotiate with unions, has pointed out that the Coventry dispute involves less than 1% of its total UK workforce.Ī spokesperson said: “We regularly review our pay to ensure we offer competitive wages, and we’re pleased to be announcing another increase for our UK teams. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. For more information see our Privacy Policy. ![]() Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. ![]() Staff gathered on picket lines when the dispute kicked off in January cited the soaring cost of living, as well as a “stressful” culture of targets, to explain their decision to stop work. By the end of April they will have taken 14 days of strike action. Some felt this did not give sufficient recognition of the fact they had worked throughout the pandemic. The dispute in Coventry began with an informal walkout last summer, after staff were told they would receive a pay rise of 50p an hour. If these votes yield positive results, formal strike ballots could then be held. The GMB will also gauge the appetite for strike action among other Amazon workers by holding consultative votes at another five distribution centres: Coalville and Kegworth, both in Leicestershire Mansfield in Nottinghamshire Rugeley in Staffordshire and Rugby in Warwickshire. She called on the company to “urgently get serious and talk pay with GMB now”. “Six further days of strike action in Coventry is a clear statement from our members they are worth more they will not accept a pay rise of pennies from one of the world’s wealthiest corporations.” The union believes it is edging closer to the 50% membership that would allow it to apply for statutory recognition.Īmanda Gearing, the senior GMB organiser involved, said: “Industrial action is growing and this could fast become a summer of strike chaos for Amazon. Previously fewer than 300 staff were involved. More than 560 workers are now expected to join in two three-day stoppages, one from 16-18 April and another from 21-23 April. The GMB claims to have signed up hundreds of new members among the workforce at Coventry and in Amazon sites further afield since the dispute began.Īmazon announced a fresh pay rise for all its UK staff earlier this month but the union said this amounted to an average of only 1.8%-2.5%, describing it as “an insult”.
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