Amazon workers vote to strike at a UK depot for the first time | Business News
Amazon workers at a UK warehouse have voted to strike for the first time.
Warehouse worker in the city. Coventry will leave in the new year compared to what the GMB union says is offering a 50p an hour increase in pay.
It comes after more than 98 per cent of workers voted to go on strike at a rate of more than 63 per cent, further increasing the number of UK workers out of work this winter.
Union boss blasts ‘completely inadequate’ pay offer – latest strike update
Amanda Gearing, senior organizer of the GMB, said the workers were “making history”, as they would become the UK’s first Amazon Warehouse workers once participated in an official strike.
“For them to be forced to go on strike to win a decent salary from one of the most valuable companies in the world would be a shame for Amazon,” she added.
“Amazon can afford to do better. It’s not too late to avoid strike action; talk to GMB to improve wages and workers’ conditions.”
The vote was announced another day as strikes were disrupted across the UK, with rail staff out again, along with bus and motorway workers.
It came after attacking the nurse took part in the first walk across the NHS on Thursday.
Read more:
All you need to know about UK winter strike
An Amazon spokesperson insists the company offers “competitive salaries”.
They say: “We appreciate the great work our teams have done throughout the year, and we pride ourselves on offering competitive salaries starting at a minimum of 10.50 to 11.45. pounds per hour, depending on location”.
“This represents a 29% increase in minimum hourly wages paid to Amazon employees since 2018.
“Employees are also offered comprehensive benefits worth thousands of dollars – including private health insurance, life insurance, subsidized meals and employee discounts, etc.
“In addition, we are pleased to announce that full-time, part-time and seasonal frontline workers will receive an additional one-time special payment of up to £500 as an additional thank-you. “
Amazon is one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a market capitalization of $880 billion (£723.1 billion).
But like many big tech companies, it announced plans to lay off thousands of employees amid lackluster growth forecasts across most industries.