Amazon workers to strike for four days including Black Friday in pay dispute

10 October 2023 , 12:05

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Amazon celebrates it's 25th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion, it revealed the top 25 products of all time (Image: Omar Marques/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)

Workers at Amazon's site in Coventry will strike for four days next month, including Black Friday on November 24, in a dispute over pay, the GMB union announced.

Members of the GMB union will walk out on November 7, 8 and 9 as well as on Black Friday on November 24. The union said it will be the "biggest day of strike action" in Amazon's history, involving more than 1,000 workers.

Rachel Fagan, GMB organiser, said the strike dates would bring the total number of days lost to industrial action to nearly 30 adding that it was an "unprecedented and historic moment with low-paid workers taking on one of the world's most powerful corporations."

Rachel said: "This is our members' response to the failure of Amazon bosses to listen. Coventry is the beating heart of Amazon's distribution network. Strike action here on Black Friday will ripple throughout the company's UK logistics.

"As Black Friday looms, Amazon must urgently reconsider their priorities or risk strike action causing widespread disruption to customers and the public."

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GMB Union announced the news of the industrial action on Amazon's second Amazon Prime Day of the year. It also comes after Amazon announced that it would be spending £170million on pay rises for staff on its frontline operations over the next six months.

The global retail giant, which employs around 75,000 people in the UK, said on Monday that from October 15, minimum starting pay for all full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal roles would increase by at least £1 an hour to between £11.80 and £12.50, depending on location. Pay rates would then further increase to between £12.30 and £13 an hour from April next year.

However, in response to the news yesterday, GMB Union said the pay rises provided "little comfort for striking workers".

GMB Union's organiser said that thousands of Amazon workers face "poverty pay, unsafe working conditions and workplace surveillance". Claiming that Amazon has spent millions fighting their own workers over union rights and fair pay.

Rachel added: “GMB members have forced a pay rise from one of the world’s most powerful corporations - but Amazon can and must do better."

Ruby Flanagan