Coventry Amazon workers escalate strike action
Amazon workers have announced a week-long strike at the company’s Coventry warehouse.
More than 350 staff at the West Midlands fulfilment centre will walk out on 28 February, 2 March and from 13 to 17 March as workers ask for a pay rise from £10.50 to £15 per hour.
Amanda Gearing, GMB Senior Organiser, said: “This unprecedented week-long strike shows the anger among Amazon workers in Coventry.
“They work for one of the richest companies in the world, yet they have to work round the clock to keep themselves afloat.
“It’s sickening that Amazon workers in Coventry will earn just 8 pence above the national minimum wage in April 2023.
An Amazon spokesperson told TheBusinessDesk.com: “Amazon bosses can stop this industrial action by doing the right thing and negotiating a proper pay rise with workers”.
“A tiny proportion of our workforce is involved. In fact, according to the verified figures, only a fraction of 1% of our UK employees voted in the ballot – and that includes those who voted against industrial action.
“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 per hour, depending on location.
“This represents a 29 per cent increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon employees since 2018. Employees are also offered comprehensive benefits that are worth thousands more—including private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidised meals and an employee discount, to name a few.”
The Coventry workers became the first Amazon staff in the UK to strike on 25 January.
They say the company marked them as a ‘no show’ on the strike day. The GMB union demanded answers from Amazon, saying properly mandated industrial action should not be classed as unauthorised absence.
The union says that workers were now worried they will be fined, or even face a gross misconduct charge.
Amazon said it respected workers’ right to lawfully strike, which had been “clearly communicated”. It said non-attendance was “not being considered as part of any absence review”.
Amazon revealed at the beginning of January that it will shut three of its UK warehouses – a decision that will affect 1,200 jobs – but adds that it will also open two new major fulfilment centres.
Sites in Doncaster, Hemel Hempstead and Gourock, in the west of Scotland, have been proposed for closure.
A spokesman for the business said all the workers would be offered roles at other existing Amazon locations.
The planned new fulfilment sites are slated for Peddimore, in the West Midlands and Stockton-on-Tees in the North East.
