It would mark Amazon's first union recognition in Europe. "With strike action escalating and historical union recognition on the horizon, it's time for Amazon to get real and get around the table." Workers have also since submitted a request for union recognition after GMB reached the membership threshold for mandatory recognition. Amazon Coventry workers have risen up, now we are seeing a domino effect. "We warned Amazon that this could fast become a summer of strike chaos if they refused to sit down and talk pay. We’ve already seen enormous enthusiasm from workers at Mansfield and Rugeley to take action, now it will be up to their union to move forward with the campaign. "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, GMB senior organiser, said: "This is no time for sound bites but Amazon workers are fighting back against a pay rise of pennies from one of the world's wealthiest corporations. The four-week ballots at Rugeley and Mansfield will run from May 12 until June 9. READ MORE: Driver who crushed woman to death after ramming Volvo into crowd outside takeaway convicted of murder In Rugeley, 98 per cent of members vote for escalation, while 100 per cent backed the strike at Mansfield. It comes after more than 150 workers at the two sites backed strikes in a consultative ballot. Union members will vote on full and binding industrial action ballot at Amazon's Rugeley and Mansfield fulfilment centres. The union has now warned Amazon faces a 'summer of strike chaos' if workers vote to walk out. Members of GMB union are set to vote on whether they should strike when a ballot launches next week. This represents a 29% increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon employees since 2018,” the spokesperson added.Amazon workers in Rugeley could walk out over an ongoing pay dispute after staff backed a vote on industrial action. “We’re proud to offer competitive pay which starts at a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45 per hour, depending on location. Workers at the warehouse were the first Amazon employees to win a union vote in the US, although the compnay has defeated other attempts to unionise in the US.Īn Amazon spokesperson said the workers going on strike represented only a small proportion of its Coventry workforce. In November a US judge ruled that the company cease and desist from retaliating against workers for organising in the workplace at a warehouse in Staten Island, New Jersey. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Īmazon has also faced a push for increased unionisation in the US. For more information see our Privacy Policy. Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. Amazon bosses can stop this industrial action by doing the right thing and negotiating a proper pay rise with workers.” skip past newsletter promotion “It’s sickening that Amazon workers in Coventry will earn just 8p above the in April 2023. They work for one of the richest companies in the world, yet they have to work round the clock to keep themselves afloat. The national living wage, the legal minimum, is £10.42 an hour for workers over 23.Īmazon has previously said it gave staff a £500 cost of living payment at Christmas.Īmanda Gearing, a GMB senior organiser, said: “This unprecedented week-long strike shows the anger among Amazon workers in Coventry. Amazon had offered a 5% rise, 50p more an hour. The striking Coventry workers, a minority of the 1,400 staff working at the warehouse, are seeking £15 an hour, a 43% increase from the £10.50 rate they are paid. The company has consistently argued that its employees should not unionise. Amazon has not recognised the union, continuing a pattern of hostility towards organised labour across the world.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |