Amazon workers announce fresh strikes

GMB union members will go on strike on four dates in March

Workers at two Amazon sites have announced a fresh round of strikes.

The GMB union confirmed strike action would take place at the Coventry site on 19 and 20 March and at Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, on 27 and 28 March.

Members have called for a minimum hourly pay rate of £15 as well as union rights at the company.

Amazon said its minimum pay would increase to £12.30 and £13 per hour in April, which it said was a 20% increase over two years.

GMB members at the company recently submitted an application for mandatory union recognition at Amazon to the government’s Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) – the body responsible for regulating collective bargaining between workers and employers.

The union said the CAC could force companies to recognise a trade union if more than half the work force are members.

Amazon workers are demanding a minimum pay of £15 per hour

Rachal Fagan, GMB organiser, said: “Amazon bosses may have hoped this campaign would fade away, but instead union membership at Amazon has exploded as more and more workers are standing up to demand Amazon listens."

The announcement of the fresh strike dates came about six months after the company opened its £500m site in Minworth, Sutton Coldfield.

A spokesperson for Amazon said the company regularly reviews its pay and the increase in April would mean minimum pay has gone up by 50% since 2018.

“We also work hard to provide great benefits, a positive work environment and excellent career opportunities,” they added.