Hundreds of Amazon employees in the UK are set to organize a strike this weekend due to an ongoing dispute over pay. The GMB union of the Coventry fulfilment centre is taking the initiative to walk out on Sunday for a period of three days, while additional strikes are scheduled to take place from April 21st to 23rd.
Amanda Gearing, a GMB senior organiser, expressed that Amazon workers deserve more and will not settle for a mere pay raise from a company as wealthy as Amazon. She noted that because of the strikes and campaigns, Amazon has taken notice and is now forced to face the music. Furthermore, she mentioned that workers from other Amazon sites have also started to vote for industrial action, implying that Amazon must take pay talks with GMB seriously.
In response, Amazon mentioned that the minimum wage for its employees has increased to a range of £11 to £12 per hour, depending on the location. The company further mentioned that the minimum wage has risen by 10 percent in the past seven months and 37 percent since 2018. Amazon also emphasized that it provides great benefits, a positive work environment, and career opportunities as additional reasons to join the company, be it a first job, seasonal role, or an opportunity to boost one’s career.
