Amazon workers are preparing to unleash a wave of strikes at their UK warehouses in the coming days as a fight over wages and conditions escalates.
A string of strikes last week is expected to be followed by further action as frustration with the cost of living crisis according to the GMB union, which has sought the right to officially represent Amazon employees.
Up to 1,500 employees gathered in the cafeteria at the American behemoth’s site in Tilbury, Essex, last Wednesday to protest a proposed wage increase of 35p an hour.
There were other strikes at facilities in Bristol and Dartford, Kent. The company declined to comment on whether it would disrupt deliveries.
The GMB, which has members in Tilbury and elsewhere but is not involved in coordinating the action and is not recognized by Amazon, said workers are demanding a £2 an hour pay increase amid rising inflation.
A source at the union said there is a “decent chance” of further strikes, adding: “This is the most coordinated activity we’ve seen in ages.”
Campaigners hope to win a victory at one of Amazon’s locations in Staten Island, New York, where the staff managed to unionize despite fierce opposition from the company.
Amazon, which records the actions of workers with handheld scanners while working ten-hour shifts, is using aggressive anti-union tactics in the US, including holding mandatory meetings where workers are encouraged to resist unionization.
An Amazon spokesperson said the starting wage for its employees will rise to a minimum of £10.50 to £11.45 an hour depending on location – significantly above the minimum wage of £9.50 an hour.
They added: “In addition to this competitive pay, employees are offered a comprehensive package of benefits, including private health insurance, life insurance, income protection, subsidized meals and an employee discount, which together are worth thousands a year, as well as a company pension plan.”