The service workers' union Verdi has called for a strike at Amazon's logistics centers during the so-called Prime Week. With "selectively organized walkouts," the workforce wants to make it clear "that they are not prepared to risk their health for the company's discount wars," Verdi said on Thursday. The strike will affect the locations in Bad Hersfeld, Dortmund, Werne, Koblenz, Rheinberg, and Leipzig, with approximately 9,000 employees.
During Prime Week, Amazon offers various deals and discounts to members of its Prime service. "Amazon colleagues receive no appreciation from their employer for the enormous extra effort they put in during Prime Week," explained Silke Zimmer of Verdi. "The company has achieved its current monopoly position at the expense of its employees – by denying them industry-standard wages and good working conditions."
Verdi accuses Amazon of exerting extreme pressure on its workers and closely monitoring their work. "Using apps, scanners, and cameras, every worker movement is recorded, and every break is documented," the union stated. In Germany, Amazon is also refusing to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.
Amazon stated that it offers its employees "fair wages and good benefits." "The starting wage at Amazon in Germany starts at €15 gross per hour and up. There are also many perks," the company explained. "It's not for nothing that half of our colleagues have been with us for over five years."
The company also does not expect the industrial action to have a noticeable impact on business operations. "Customers can rely on reliable, punctual deliveries of their orders as usual," it explained. "As always, our well-coordinated logistics teams will ensure this."
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