Around 900 Amazon workers at its Coventry warehouse are set to strike for three days from tomorrow (11 July 2023) in a dispute over pay, coinciding with the ecommerce giant’s two-day Amazon Prime Day event. According to the GMB union, the walkout will take place from 11 July-13 July, with warehouse employees to walk out for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening on the three days.

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The strike is in response to Amazon’s refusal to meet the workers’ demands for a £15 an hour minimum wage and union rights. GMB senior organiser Rachel Fagan said: “GMB members in Coventry have time and time again shown that this fight will only end with £15 an hour and union rights.”

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The two-day event is expected to drive £1.2 billion of online spending, an increase of 92% compared with normal spending levels, according to the Adobe Digital Economy Index. Amazon has stated that its Coventry site does not directly serve customer orders, resulting in no disruptions to customers.

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The move follows employees voting for six months more industrial action over pay. GMB senior organiser Amanda Gearing said: “Amazon call pull all the dirty tricks it wants; hiring extra staff to deny workers their right to a voice in the workplace is an obstacle, but it is not unsurmountable. These workers are angry, they know their rights and they will not go away.”

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Last month, Amazon was accused by the trade union of playing “dirty tricks” after it was forced to withdraw its bid for recognition. GMB claimed the ecommerce giant went on a “massive recruitment drive” following the request for recognition and alleged that company was paying an additional 1,300 workers “to try to bust the union”.

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Sources: https://internetretailing.net/amazon-strikes-prime/