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Amazon workers from over 30 different countries are set to strike today (25 November) on Black Friday, one of the retailer’s busiest days of the year.
The movement has been formed by the Make Amazon Pay coalition, which is co-convened by UNI Global Union and the Progressive International.
The coalition comprises over 80 trade unions, civil society organisations, environmentalists and tax watchdogs including UNI Global Union, the Progressive International, Oxfam, Greenpeace, 350.org, Tax Justice Network and Amazon Workers International.
It is demanding that Amazon “pays its workers fairly and respects their right to join unions, pays its fair share of taxes and commits to real environmental sustainability”.
As part of the movement, Amazon will face strikes in at least 18 warehouses in France and Germany and worker walkouts in the US.
Today’s strikes mark the third year Make Amazon Pay has organised a global day of action on Black Friday. In previous years, thousands of workers went on strike at facilities throughout Germany, major workers’ protests were held in Bangladesh, demonstrations projected the Make Amazon Pay logo at Amazon headquarters across the world, and Extinction Rebellion blockaded distribution centres in the UK.
Christy Hoffman, UNI Global Union’s general secretary, said: “Today, unions, civil society and progressive elected officials will stand shoulder to shoulder in a massive global day of action to denounce Amazon’s despicable multimillion dollar campaigns to kill worker-lead union efforts. It’s time for the tech giant to cease their awful, unsafe practices immediately, respect the law and negotiate with the workers who want to make their jobs better.”
Daniel Kopp, the Progressive International’s Make Amazon Pay coordinator, added: “We all know that the price of everything is going up, as is the temperature of our planet. Instead of paying its workers fairly, its taxes in full and for its damage to our environment, Amazon is squeezing every last drop it can workers, communities and the planet.
“As workers around the world struggle with the cost of living scandal, Amazon, despite its enormous profits, is forcing real terms pay cuts on its workers. It shirks its taxes and its CO2 emissions are soaring – up 18% in 2021 – even though Amazon only counts the emissions of 1% of its products sold. In the face of the cost of living scandal, global debt crisis and climate emergency, we are coming together to Make Amazon Pay.”
Amazon has been contacted for comment.
