This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
Amazon workers in Germany have taken a stand against the online retail giant's treatment of its logistics employees. On Monday, labor union Verdi announced that more than 2,000 workers at seven Amazon sites across Germany had gone on strike.
The strike, which started overnight, coincides with Amazon's Prime Day, a major shopping event where the company offers significant discounts to its 'Prime' customers. Germany is Amazon's second-largest market after the United States.
Verdi, a German labor union, has been at odds with Amazon over better pay and working conditions for logistics workers. The union has staged frequent strikes since 2013, and this latest action is part of their ongoing efforts to secure a living wage for Amazon employees.
“While Amazon fuels bargain hunting on Prime Day with hefty discounts, employees are being deprived of a living wage,” said Orhan Akman, Verdi's retail specialist, in a statement.
Verdi is demanding that Amazon recognize collective wage agreements for the retail and mail order sectors, making them binding across Germany's retail sector. This would ensure that Amazon employees receive fair wages and benefits, rather than being treated as low-wage workers.
Amazon, however, disputes Verdi's claims, stating that it is a fair and responsible employer, even without a collective agreement in place. The company claims that its wages are at the upper end of what is paid in comparable jobs.
Amazon runs 12 warehouses in Germany, and the company plans to open a new warehouse this year, creating over 2,800 jobs with permanent contracts.
