Protest over Amazon’s work conditions
WAREHOUSE WORKERS WANT THE RIGHT TO JOIN A UNION
PROTESTERS have called on Amazon bosses to allow its workers the freedom to set up a union amid allegations of poor working conditions at the global firm.
A group of campaigners held a banner aloft at Donington Park, near East Midlands Airport, on Wednesday morning calling for the mega retail and entertainment company to sign up to a declaration which would “guarantee workers the freedom to talk with and form a union without fear”.
But Amazon has hit back, saying it offers employees “excellent pay, excellent benefits and excellent opportunities for career growth”.
The protest was held at Donington Park, although there is no Amazon warehouse there. The nearest warehouse is in Kegworth, also close to East Midlands Airport.
The protest comes a week after Amazon reported that its first-quarter profits more than tripled from a year ago, fuelled by the growth of online shopping. Amazon had sales income of 44bn euros (£37.9bn) in Europe in 2020.
Despite a lockdown surge, the firm’s Luxembourg unit made a 1.2bn euros (£1.03bn) loss and therefore paid zero corporation tax.
Unite the union says that “against a backdrop of reports about poor working conditions and anti-union tactics”, Amazon workers have been classed as essential during the Covid crisis but are not currently free to join a union.
The union is calling on Amazon chief Jeff Bezos to sign up to a declaration of neutrality to benefit its thousands of workers – some are based in the Kegworth warehouse which opened in 2019.
Bezos, one of the world’s richest men, earns US$321 million (£230m) per day or US$3,715 (£2,672) per second, according to figures published in the Observer last month.
Unite executive officer, Sharon Graham said: “Amazon’s profits have tripled off the backs of workers who have been essential during the pandemic. But the company continues to be plagued by reports of poor working conditions and anti-union tactics.
“Amazon workers are not currently free to join a union without fear, and without obstruction and propaganda being deployed against them.
“Workers have serious concerns about issues such as bullying, mandatory overtime, intense surveillance, breakneck production targets and much more besides. Amazon workers need an independent voice to stand up against injustices in the workplace.
“Unite has recently written to Jeff Bezos in response to claims from the company about respecting UK workers’ rights to join and form a union.
“Our union is calling on the company to make a clear commitment and sign up to a declaration of neutrality.
“The declaration would guarantee workers the freedom to talk with and form a union without fear.
“If the company is genuine then it should be more than happy to sign the declaration.”
Derbyshirelive approached Amazon for a response to the protest and the allegations put forward.
An Amazon spokesperson said: “The fact is we already offer our employees excellent pay, excellent benefits and excellent opportunities for career growth, all while working in a safe, modern work environment.
“Our competitive wages start at £9.70 or £10.80 per hour depending on location, and we’d encourage anyone to compare this to the wages and benefits offered by other retailers.
“We’re proud to have created 10,000 new permanent roles across the UK in 2020, taking our total permanent UK workforce to more than 40,000.
“Our people have played a critical role in serving customers in these unprecedented times and the new roles help us continue to meet customer demand and support small and medium-sized businesses selling on
Amazon.”