• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. UK Amazon workers staging longest strike of 5 days to demand pay raise
Europe

UK Amazon workers staging longest strike of 5 days to demand pay raise

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Mar 16:05

With Amazon being the globe's second-largest retailer following Walmart, it refused to acknowledge the GMB union and has frequently argued over why its workers should not unionize.

  • People gathered during a rally outside the Amazon depot in Coventry, UK, on January 25, 2023 (Reuters)
    People gathered during a rally outside the Amazon depot in Coventry, UK, on January 25, 2023. (Reuters)

Employees at an Amazon warehouse in Coventry, UK, are preparing to conduct a five-day strike due to last until Friday, as close to 310 workers will demand improved pay and conditions.

The employees are considered the first UK employees of Amazon to take action by striking after receiving praise from Labour's Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana, who claimed they were 'making history'. 

With Amazon being the globe's second-largest retailer following Walmart, it refused to acknowledge the GMB union, and has frequently argued over why its workers should not unionize. The Coventry workers are seeking payment of £15 an hour, which amounts to a 43% increase from the £10.50 rate they currently receive. 

GMB senior organizer Amanda Gearing stated, "This unprecedented week-long strike shows the anger among Amazon workers in Coventry. They work for one of the richest companies in the world, yet they have to work round the clock to keep themselves afloat."

She expressed how "sickening" it is to earn barely over the country's minimum wage of £10.42. "Amazon bosses can stop this industrial action by doing the right thing and negotiating a proper pay rise with workers,' she added.

'Competitive pay'

Gearing stated, "But people working for one of the most valuable companies in the world shouldn't have to threaten strike action just to win a wage they can live on. GMB urges Amazon UK bosses to give workers a proper pay rise and avoid industrial action."

Previously, an Amazon spokesperson commented on how the company "appreciates the great work" they put in, and expressed how "proud" it is to provide what they consider as competitive pay between £10.50 and £11.45 per hour.

"This represents a 29% increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon employees since 2018. Employees are also offered comprehensive benefits that are worth thousands more—including private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidized meals, and an employee discount, to name a few."

Amazon has been laying employees off by the thousands, namely in the US. 

A few employees were laid off in November, and according to an inside source knowledgeable on the matter, Amazon still had a range of targets nearly concerning 10,000 job cuts, not sparing its retail division and human resources.

At a time when Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is promising to give away most of his wealth for charity, The New York Times revealed on November 14 that Amazon was planning to cut about 10,000 jobs mainly in corporate and technology roles.

  • UK strikes
  • Strike
  • inflation
  • UK
  • Amazon

Trending Now

All
UK railway workers' union begin 5-day strike (AP)

UK recession gravely affecting cost-of-living, extends throughout 2023

Most Read

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine counteroffensive

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine's counteroffensive

  • Africa
  • 24 May
The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

  • Analysis
  • 28 May
The domestically produced C919 passenger jet flies at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, Peoeple's Republic of China, 8 November 2022. (Reuters)

China is set to launch first commercial flight on its C919 plane

  • Asia
  • 26 May
Kissinger bears considerable culpability for assaults in Cambodia that killed as many as 150,000 civilians

Kissinger's secret war in Cambodia reveals mass killings: Intercept

  • Asia
  • 24 May

Read this

All
In this image released by the Italian firefighters, a helicopter searches for missing passengers after a tourist boat capsized in a storm on Italy's Lago Maggiore in the northern Lombardy region, May 28, 2023 (AP)
Europe

Top Israeli intelligence official dead in Italy: Israeli media

  • 29 May
The Global Campaign to the Return to Palestine honours several "Return Ambassadors" in Beirut, Lebanon, May 29 2023. (@return_ar/Twitter)
Palestine

GCRP honors 'Return Ambassadors' to Palestine in Beirut

  • Today
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Minister of Justice Yariv Levin attend a weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office in occupied Al-Quds, occupied Palestine, May 28, 2023 (AP)
Palestine

Let AI replace Netanyahu's government, opposition's Lapid says

  • 29 May
In this picture released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on Thursday, May 25, 2023, Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location, Iran (Iranian Defense Ministry via AP)
MENA

Iran set to unveil its first ever hypersonic missile

  • 29 May
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS