Amazon strike wave keeps growing in UK
Just days after Make Amazon Pay Day – a global day of action with work stoppages in Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States – the UK’s GMB union announced today that workers at Amazon’s new flagship Birmingham-area fulfilment centre are joining the union’s strike wave.
In total, 100 per cent of workers voted for industrial action at the fulfilment centre in Minworth, which opened its doors in October 2023.
More than 1,000 Amazon workers walked off the job last week as part of GMB Union’s Black Friday action at the retail giant. They were joined by representatives from across Europe and North America – UNI, the Teamsters, ver.di and FILCAMS CGIL. The GMB has been carrying out a series of strikes at the company in recent weeks at several of its fulfilment centres.
“After Black Friday strikes last week, we’re seeing industrial action snowballing and Amazon is surely set to face a winter of strike chaos,” said Amanda Gearing, GMB Organizer. “Amazon Minworth opened its doors just weeks ago and workers have already voted to join strike action.”
Strike dates for this new facility will be announced in the coming weeks.
“After a month on the job, Minworth workers have already had enough not earning the wage they deserve, of not feeling safe on the job and of not having the protections of a collective agreement,” said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. “We welcome them to the global union family and will stand with them as they take collect action for the pay, conditions and respect at work they need. This strike is further evidence that Amazon needs to come to the table and cease its opposition to unions in Europe and around the world.”
