Home » UK Employment news » Amazon workers in Coventry to strike for six more days

Amazon workers in Coventry to strike for six more days

By Nithya Bose in UK Employment news, posted April 1, 2023

Amazon workers in Coventry plan to walk out for another six days in a row over salary.

GMB union members will strike from 16 to 18 April and 21 to 23 April, following action earlier this year.

The GMB has demanded a pay rise from £10.50 to £15 per hour, although the union is not recognised by the e-commerce giant.

Amazon insists it offers competitive salaries that have increased by 29 percent since 2018 and other perks.

It previously said only a "tiny proportion" of its employees in Coventry had taken part in the dispute.

An analysis by BBC suggests Amazon won’t negotiate with the union.

But the union is hoping the company will have to engage as it continues to sign up more workers at the site.

The union estimates 1,300 people work at the warehouse, with 560 union members.

If 90 more join the union, bringing the total number of members to 650, or half the workforce, GMB will apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) for "statutory recognition.”

During strike days, it has been hiring 30 people each day on average.

The GMB also surveyed members at five other Midlands sites to see if they were inclined to participate in strike action.

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Online voting will be conducted to determine the support level for the protest.

Hundreds of staff from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, Coalville in Leicestershire, Kegworth in Leicestershire, Rugeley in Staffordshire, and Rugby in Warwickshire are expected to join.

But strikes at these locations would be possible if the union held another postal vote, resulting in a majority vote in favour of a walkout.

Source: BBC

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