Reports by the Trade Union, GMB, claim that hundreds of Amazon employees left their jobs protesting unfair compensation. The strike began at a warehouse in Tilbury, southeast England, and is the latest indication of the unhappiness of the labor force as the rising cost of living prompts strikes in various industries.
On Thursday, GMB stated, “Amazon continues to reject working with trade unions to deliver better working conditions and fair pay. Their repeated use of short-term contracts is designed to undermine worker’s rights.” Steve Garelick, a GMB regional organizer, added, “Amazon is one of the most profitable companies on the planet. The image the company likes to project and the reality for their workers could not be more different. They need to drastically improve pay and working conditions.”
GMB reported that 800 workers left the warehouse over a 35-pence pay increase between Wednesday and Thursday. The Union was asking for a two-pound ($2.44) pay increase to meet the demands of the position better and keep up with the rising cost of living.
Nearly 75,000 people work for Amazon in the UK, and numerous reports in recent years about difficult working conditions, particularly for warehouse staff. This issue has deeper roots than just the lousy treatment of workers in the UK, as the online retail mogul faced scrutiny from its workers on a global scale over the same points.
Covering its tracks, Amazon had a spokesperson announce an increase in pay while offering an incentive package to its workers, “Starting pay for Amazon employees will be increasing to a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45p/h, depending on location. This is for all the UK’s full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary roles. In addition to this competitive pay, employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package that includes private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, subsidized meals, and an employee discount, among others, which are worth thousands annually, as well as a company pension plan.”
Since wage increases have lagged behind increases in the cost of goods, workers from various industries, including the railway, airline, and telecommunication, have recently gone on strike in Britain.
Although this announcement only addresses the strike and issues in the UK, many are eager to see how the company continues to deal with the recurring problems on a global scale.
US Vice President Kamala Harris and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh met with union organizers at the White House in May to support unionization efforts. Chris Smalls, the leader of the Amazon Labor Union, who last month won a vote to unionize warehouse workers in Staten Island, New York, was one of the guests.
According to a White House briefing, attendees at the meeting discussed the organizers’ efforts to establish unions in their workplaces and how that might inspire workers nationwide to launch similar union campaigns.
The event held an unexpected appearance of US President Joe Biden, who thanked attendees for “fueling the growing national planning momentum.”
