Strike mobilizations in various regions of Europe took place today, 24/11 in view of the Black Friday its employees Amazon. Protests have escalated against the US e-commerce giant’s labor practices on one of the busiest days of the year.
The global “Make Amazon Pay” campaign, which is coordinated by the international trade union federation UNI Global Union, said that strikes and demonstrations will take place in more than 30 countries from the so-called Black Friday until Monday .
Many retailers cut prices to boost sales on Black Friday, the day after the US Thanksgiving holiday.
While originally known for consumer queues outside major US department stores, the day has now become more online and international, fueled in part by Amazon, which this year is offering ten days of sales from the 17th to on November 27.
In Germany, Amazon’s second-biggest market by sales last year, about 250 workers at a warehouse in Leipzig and about 500 at a warehouse in Rheinberg went on strike, according to the Verdi union. The union said the 24-hour strike at five fulfillment centers began at midnight yesterday demanding an agreement on collective bargaining agreements.
An Amazon spokesman in Germany said workers receive fair wages, with a starting salary of more than 14 euros an hour, and additional benefits. The spokesperson said the timeline for Black Friday order deliveries will be reliable and will be met.
More than 200 workers are on strike today at Amazon’s warehouse in Coventry, England, in a dispute over wages. The workers are asking for a wage increase to £15 an hour. An Amazon spokesman in Britain said the minimum wage was between £11.80 and £13 an hour depending on location, and would rise to £12.30 to £13 an hour from April 2024. Amazon said the strike would not will cause problems.
The Italian trade union CGIL, as reported by the Athens News Agency, has announced a strike for today at the warehouse unit in Castel San Giovanni, while the Spanish trade union CCOO has called on workers in Amazon’s warehouse and distribution services to strike for one hour in each shift next Monday, known as “Cyber ​​Monday”, which is the last day of Amazon’s 10-day sale.
Amazon’s parcel pick-up boxes – located in locations from train stations to supermarkets and used by many customers – will also be targeted.
In France, the anti-globalisation organization Attac is calling on activists to cover these boxes with posters and duct tape, making it harder for distributors and customers to open them.
Attac, which describes Black Friday as a day of “celebration of overproduction and overconsumption”, said it expected the mobilization to be wider than last year, when 100 Amazon counters across France were targeted.
Amazon remains popular in Europe even though competitors such as Shein and Temu are experiencing rapid growth. Amazon’s app had 146 million active users in Europe in October, compared with 64 million for Shein and 51 million for Temu.
Source: News Beast
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