XR protesters block Amazon warehouses on Black Friday
AMAZON was targeted on its busiest shopping day of the year as Extinction Rebellion protesters closed off sites, leading to cancelled shifts and the prospect of late deliveries.
The environmental group blockaded 13 of Amazon’s 21 fulfilment centres, including its largest centre in Dunfermline, in a series of Black Friday demonstrations.
Staff were told not to come in for the afternoon shift at a warehouse in Peterborough due to the protests. Those at another centre in Rugeley, Staffordshire, were forced to park at a local supermarket to get into work, with
‘We have a large network of sites across the UK and are working to minimise any potential disruption’
operations said to have ground to a halt.
Amazon said it was making adjustments to limit disruption to deliveries. The company said: “We have a large network of sites across the UK and are working to minimise any potential disruption to customers.”
The demonstrations led to at least 13 arrests after protesters erected bamboo structures at warehouse entrances.
Extinction Rebellion said: “The action is intended to draw attention to Amazon’s exploitative and environmentally destructive business practices, disregard for workers’ rights in the name of company profits, as well as the wastefulness of Black Friday.” The protest group also targeted sites in the US, Germany and the Netherlands.
An Amazon spokesman said: “At Amazon, we take our responsibilities very seriously. That includes our commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement – providing excellent pay and benefits in a safe and modern work environment, and supporting the tens of thousands of British small businesses who sell on our store.”