Amazon UK fulfilment centre workers in Coventry call "unprecedented" week long strike

Amazon UK workers have announced a week long strike at the company’s Coventry warehouse. 

More than 350 staff at the West Midland fulfilment centre will walk out on 28th February, 2nd March and from 13th to 17th March. 

This builds on them becoming the first Amazon workers in the UK to strike, on 25th January, in their fight for £15 per hour 

Amanda Gearing, GMB Senior Organiser, says: “This unprecedented week long strike shows the anger among Amazon workers in Coventry.”

“They work for one of the richest companies in the world, yet they have to work round the clock to keep themselves afloat. It’s sickening that Amazon workers in Coventry will earn just eight pence above the national minimum wage in April 2023.”

She concludes: “Amazon bosses can stop this industrial action by doing the right thing and negotiating a proper pay rise with workers.” 

AMAZON RESPONDS

Amazon has countered by arguing that we’re taking about a small number of staff at the Coventry warehouse (there are around 2,100 employees in all).

A spokesperson told RTIH: “We appreciate the great work our teams do throughout the year and we’re proud to offer competitive pay which starts at a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45 per hour, depending on location.”

“This represents a 29% increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon employees since 2018.”

“Employees are also offered comprehensive benefits that are worth thousands more, including private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidised meals and an employee discount, to name a few.”

The spokesperson added that normal operations will continue at the site and across Amazon’s UK wide network.

They insisted that there will be zero impact to customers (the site is not a fulfilment centre that directly services customer orders – rather, it provides stock to UK fulfilment centres.