Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, two of the biggest shopping events of the year, Amazon employees in more than 20 countries, including the US and the UK, are planning to stage rallies or go on strike, according to organizers.
The initiative’s organizers, the grassroots activist group Progressive International and the Switzerland-based labor federation UNI Global Union, say the goal of the planned Make Amazon Pay demonstrations is to hold Amazon responsible for labor violations, environmental damage, and threats to democracy.
We are united in our demand that Amazon respect fundamental rights, treat its employees fairly, and cease undermining the safeguards that are in place to protect us all. Christy Hoffman, general secretary of the UNI Global Union, stated that Make Amazon Pay Day is turning into a worldwide protest against Amazon’s abuse of power.
“These groups represent a variety of interests, and while we’re always listening and looking at ways to improve, we remain proud of the competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and engaging, safe work experience we provide our teams,” said Eileen Hards, a spokeswoman for Amazon.
According to the two strike organizers, unions and affiliated organizations intend to stage protests in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Turkey, and other countries. Thousands of Amazon employees are planning to go on strike in at least six German towns. Hundreds of Amazon employees are anticipated to demonstrate in New Delhi to call for equitable treatment.
In an era of income disparity, labor leaders worldwide are becoming more confident in their ability to challenge big businesses, which is why the planned global day of resistance has been organized. The real value of minimum wages has been declining in many nations due to post-pandemic inflation and the rising cost of living, according to the International Labour Organization, a division of the United Nations.
American labor advocates have been more and more critical of Amazon and its billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos, in recent years. The outcomes have been inconsistent. The first company warehouse to vote to create a union was an Amazon location in Staten Island, New York, at the beginning of 2022. However, at least two union efforts in New York and comparable ones in Alabama failed.
How many American employees of Amazon, one of the world’s largest e-commerce and digital technology companies, would take part in the planned protests against the Seattle-based company was not immediately clear.
According to Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, co-general coordinator of Progressive International, “Amazon is everywhere, but so are we.” By uniting our movements across borders, we can not only force Amazon to change its ways, but lay the foundations of a world that prioritizes human dignity, not Jeff Bezos bank balance.
According to Progressive International and the UNI Global Union, Make Amazon Pay has been in operation for five years. In previous years, according to the groups, thousands of workers went on strike at company facilities in Germany, France, Spain, the U.K. and Italy.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!