Amazon Black Friday Chaos: 1000 Workers Stage Walkout Over Pay Dispute

During the bustling shopping month of Black Friday, Amazon workers have chosen to express their dissatisfaction by participating in strikes, protesting against the labor practices of the U.S. e-commerce giant. Over 1,000 employees at the Coventry warehouse have reportedly walked out, joining an international movement with strikes planned across Europe and the USA.

The global “Make Amazon Pay” campaign, coordinated by the UNI Global Union, has orchestrated strikes and protests in over 30 countries during the period from Black Friday to Monday, which follows the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday and is known for retailers offering substantial discounts.

While Black Friday has traditionally been associated with in-person shopping at large retail outlets in the U.S., the shift towards online platforms, significantly driven by Amazon, has brought about global implications. This year, the company advertised holiday discounts from November 17 to November 27.

In Germany, Amazon’s second-largest market by sales in the previous year, trade union Verdi estimated that approximately 2,000 workers participated in strikes across six fulfillment centers. Notably, 500 workers in Rheinberg (nearly 40% of the workforce) and 250 workers in Leipzig (about 20%) were reported to be on strike. In response, an Amazon spokesperson in Germany disputed these figures, emphasizing fair wages and assuring the timely delivery of Black Friday orders.

In England, over 200 workers at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse participated in a strike, extending a long-running dispute over pay. Workers, including Nick Henderson, called for higher pay and improved working conditions, demanding a pay increase to £15 pounds ($18.69) per hour.

Amazon’s response in the UK included stating that the minimum starting pay ranged from £11.80 to £13 per hour, with an upcoming increase to £12.30 to £13 per hour from April 2024. The company reassured that the strike would not disrupt operations.

In Italy, trade union CGIL reported that over 60% of workers at the Amazon warehouse in Castel San Giovanni were on strike. However, Amazon countered, claiming that more than 86% of its workers reported to work, with no impact on operations.

In Spain, the CCOO union called for Amazon warehouse and delivery workers to stage a one-hour strike on each shift during “Cyber Monday” the following week. In France, Amazon’s parcel lockers, commonly used by customers to receive orders, were adorned with posters and barricade tape, according to anti-globalization organization Attac, which spearheaded the protest. Attac, referring to Black Friday as a “celebration of overproduction and overconsumption,” targeted 40 lockers across the country. Amazon assured the accessibility of all its lockers in France.