Warehouse workers in Coventry will become the first UK Amazon workers to strike on January 25th.
A ballot of around 300 staff late last year saw 98% vote to walk out in the New Year on a 63% turnout following the company’s pay offer of 50p per hour – rising to £10.56, equivalent to 5% and well below inflation.
Further strike dates are to be announced in the coming weeks, according to the GMB Union.
“[Our striking workers have] shown they’re willing to put themselves on the line to fighting for what’s right,” said Amanda Gearing, senior organiser at the GMB union.
“But people working for one of the most valuable companies in the world shouldn’t have to threaten strike action just to win a wage they can live on.
“GMB urges Amazon UK bosses to give workers a proper pay rise and avoid industrial action altogether.”
Worker Darren Westwood told ITV News in December that the offer was a “smack in the teeth” following their efforts as key workers during COVID-19.
“It made us feel so unappreciated. When I used to come to work during the pandemic, my kids used to cry,” he said.
“Obviously, they’d seen news and read reports about how COVID was impacting people. And they knew every night that I was going out to work with another thousand people in a warehouse.”
Amazon UK Services Limited paid £10.8 million in tax in 2021 on pre-tax profits of £204m.
Amazon has previously said delivery services will not be affected by the walkout this month.