[UK] Amazon workers in Coventry warehouse vote to strike in national first

In a UK first for the online retail giant Amazon, workers at its Coventry distribution centre have voted to strike, Retail Gazette reports.

Hundreds of angry employees have voted to walk out in response to Amazon’s 50p per hour pay rise offer.  Workers had wanted their hourly pay to rise from £10 an hour to £15.

A majority of more than 98 per cent of union members reportedly voted to strike in the ballot that closed on December 16 with a turnout of more than 63 per cent.

Any industrial action is likely to take place in the new year. 

Amanda Gearing - senior organiser at union GMB - said, “Amazon workers in Coventry have made history – they will be the first ever in the UK to take part in a formal strike. 

“They should be applauded for their grit and determination – fighting for what’s right in the face of an appallingly hostile environment.  

“The fact that they are being forced to go on strike to win a decent rate of pay from one of the world’s most valuable companies should be a badge of shame for Amazon  

“Amazon can afford to do better. It’s not too late to avoid strike action; get round the table with GMB to improve the pay and conditions of workers.”   

An Amazon spokesperson told The Guardian, “We appreciate the great work our teams do throughout the year and we’re proud to offer competitive pay, which starts at a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45 an hour, depending on location. This represents a 29% increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon employees since 2018.”

They added that employees would receive an extra one-off £500 payment, “as an extra thank you”.

Amazon workers around the globe had reportedly threatened to strike on Black Friday over alleged unfair pay. The employees coordinated their campaign with the ‘Make Amazon Pay’ movement.

Source: Retail Gazette

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

In a UK first for the online retail giant Amazon, workers at its Coventry distribution centre have voted to strike, Retail Gazette reports.

Hundreds of angry employees have voted to walk out in response to Amazon’s 50p per hour pay rise offer.  Workers had wanted their hourly pay to rise from £10 an hour to £15.

A majority of more than 98 per cent of union members reportedly voted to strike in the ballot that closed on December 16 with a turnout of more than 63 per cent.

Any industrial action is likely to take place in the new year. 

Amanda Gearing - senior organiser at union GMB - said, “Amazon workers in Coventry have made history – they will be the first ever in the UK to take part in a formal strike. 

“They should be applauded for their grit and determination – fighting for what’s right in the face of an appallingly hostile environment.  

“The fact that they are being forced to go on strike to win a decent rate of pay from one of the world’s most valuable companies should be a badge of shame for Amazon  

“Amazon can afford to do better. It’s not too late to avoid strike action; get round the table with GMB to improve the pay and conditions of workers.”   

An Amazon spokesperson told The Guardian, “We appreciate the great work our teams do throughout the year and we’re proud to offer competitive pay, which starts at a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45 an hour, depending on location. This represents a 29% increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon employees since 2018.”

They added that employees would receive an extra one-off £500 payment, “as an extra thank you”.

Amazon workers around the globe had reportedly threatened to strike on Black Friday over alleged unfair pay. The employees coordinated their campaign with the ‘Make Amazon Pay’ movement.

Source: Retail Gazette

(Links and quotes via original reporting)