UNI stands with GMB as it narrowly falls short of victory at Amazon Coventry

UNI Global Union stands in solidarity with GMB union and its members at Amazon’s warehouse in Coventry, UK, after a historic vote to secure union recognition at the company fell short by just 28 votes.

Of the 2,600 workers who voted, 49.5 per cent backed unionization, with 50.5 per cent voting against, meaning that GMB failed to get the majority it needed for the right to collectively bargain over pay and conditions.

Workers at Amazon’s Coventry fulfillment centre were granted a ballot by the UK’s independent Central Arbitration Committee after a campaign led by GMB. The vote ran from 8 to 13 July.

The results come after Amazon ran a dogged campaign to pressure workers against unionization. Following the result, GMB said in a statement on X:

“The fight for trade union recognition for Amazon workers is not over. Amazon fought dirty – pressuring workers into cancelling their GMB membership, bombarding them with anti-union seminars and threats to terms and conditions. We will keep fighting for Amazon workers.”

 Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, said:

 “Amazon used the same playbook in Coventry as they have for years in the US. They launched a full-blown campaign of fear and intimidation, using classic scare tactics which were both heavy handed and relentless. Amazon created a warzone-like atmosphere over the simple question of whether workers have the right to come together in a union. I congratulate the GMB for getting within a hair’s breadth of victory and having the guts to take on this difficult campaign. Such a close election in the context of a fierce fight sends a strong message to Amazon that there will be a ‘next time’ – workers will not give up.”  

UNI will continue to support the GMB and all Amazon workers fighting for their right to have a union and bargain over their conditions at work.