Several Amazon Workers Stage 3-day Strike in UK Over Pay Dispute

The initial labour protest by the workers at Amazon in the UK happened in January at the Coventry complex named as BHX4. The demand of employees was that they should be paid $15 an hour.  

The GMB has said to have got signs from hundreds of fresh faces among the labour at Coventry as well as in Amazon sites ever since the protests started happening.

Initially this month, Amazon declared a new wage raise for all its UK employees. However, the union claimed that this increase, which only equates to an average of 1.8% to 2.5%, is an insult.

Currently, approximately 560+ employees are anticipated to participate in two three-day halts, one is between April 16 to 18 and the other is from April 21 to 23. At the very start, only 300 employees were participating, now the number has increased significantly. The union thinks it is now somehow able to reach its one milestone of reaching close to 50% members and therefore it helps it submit an official recognition application.

The senior GMB organiser Amanda Gearing got involved and stated that this may quickly turn into a summer of strike disaster for Amazon as industrial unrest is rising.

She continued by saying that the members are ardent on the fact that they are more worthy as they continue their strike in Coventry for close to a week. They will not take their pay in peanuts as they believe that the place where they work is one of the biggest businesses globally and they deserve that much. She also urged the corporation to get serious in the matter and initiate the talks regarding pay scale with GMB as soon as possible. 

By conducting consultative ballots at five other Amazon distribution locations, including Mansfield (Nottinghamshire), Rugby (Warwickshire), Coalville and Kegworth (Leicestershire), and Rugeley (Staffordshire), the GMB will also determine whether other Amazon employees are interested in moving towards strike.

If the results prove to be favorable, a proper ballot system will take place to handle the situation.

The conflict at Coventry occurred with an informal walkout when the workers got to know the information that they would get a wage increase of 50p on hourly basis. Certain people also got this thought that the company did not value and recognise their contributions and efforts that they made during Covid-19 pandemic. Now, to counter this, they have planned to start a strike for fourteen days at the end of April.

The protestors said that they have two reasons to protest, one is the exceptionally high cost of living and second the culture demands one to be one their toes all the time as they have to complete high targets in less time. For this reason, protestors gathered and went on for strike in the month of January.

Amazon earlier reported that the minimal wage has increased by 10% lately and by a total of 37% altogether since 2018. A representative for the online store stated that in order to ensure Amazon offers competitive salary, it regularly assesses its compensation. The spokesperson said that just a small percentage” of the company’s Coventry employees were engaged in the disagreement. He said that the company has put a lot of effort into providing exceptional benefits, a safe and happy work environment, and opportunities to enhance career more.

One of the Member of Parliament  Taiwo Owatemi with the help of other union organizers from the United States supported protestors who have been demanding for identification at Amazon.

Despite the beginning of the year’s announcement that it will shut down three of its UK warehouses, Amazon is now constructing two more, notably a facility in Peddimore, West Midlands, which is anticipated to generate 1,400 employment and has been hailed as a major vote of trust by Andy Street, a mayor.

Just over three months ago, Amazon informed its employees that there had been no funding available for salary hikes. However, as a result of pressure, activism, and protests, Amazon has been compelled to pay attention to it.

Prior to this, members went on strike in February and March. According to GMB, the warehouse currently has 600 participants, up from 300 when a consultation poll was held in September of last year.