By Julia Kollewe
Thousands of Amazon workers are expected to demonstrate or strike in more than 20 countries on the occasion of “Black Friday”, this Friday, November 29, in order to encourage the American firm to better respect their rights and take action in favor of the climate.
Employees and representatives of unions and labor groups plan to join protests against the Seattle-based company's practices between Black Friday and Ciber Monday (December 2 – a day created by businesses to encourage online shopping), one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.
During this annual discount period, Amazon and many other retailers offer deals to shoppers, and warehouse staff are busy fulfilling orders.
Actions are planned in major cities in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Turkey, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil and other countries. They are coordinated by the “Make Amazon Pay” campaign, which asks Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos – one of the richest men in the world with a fortune of some $214 billion – to fairly pay its employees. and respect their right to unionize, pay their fair share of taxes and commit to a sustainable environment.
Led by the UNI Global Union for Service Industries, based in Switzerland [siège à Nyon, canton de Vaud]and the activist group Progressive International, the “Make Amazon Pay” campaign brings together more than 80 unions, associations fighting against poverty and defending the rights of workers in the clothing sector, etc.
Protests are planned outside Amazon's UK headquarters in Bishopsgate, London Street on Black Friday. British tax justice campaigners and other groups will deliver a petition with more than 110,000 signatures to the company, followed by a march to 11 Downing Street [résidence de la chancelière de l’Echiquier Rachel Reeves]. The petitioners call on the Chancellor to end tax breaks for Amazon UK and other big businesses.
Last year, Amazon's main UK division paid corporation tax for the first time since 2020, after the end of a “super-deduction” introduced by former Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak.
The British GMB union [qui réunit 560’000 membres présents dans tous les secteurs, entre autres dans la vente de détail] plans to hold an online rally of Amazon workers on “Black Friday.” Last year, hundreds of strikers outside the Amazon warehouse in Coventry were joined on Black Friday by trade unionists from Germany, Italy and California as part of an international campaign demanding better working conditions and recognition of unions.
Amanda Gearing, head of organizing at GMB, said: “Here in the UK, Amazon represents everything that is broken about our economy. Precarious work, poverty wages and often dangerous working conditions: the GMB will not let these practices shape the world of work for the next decade.”
In Germany, thousands of members of the Ver.di union will strike in warehouses in Dortmund, Leipzig, Koblenz, Graben, Werne, Bad Hersfeld and Rheinberg.
In France, the Association for the Taxation of Financial Transactions and for Citizen Action (ATTAC), which promotes tax justice, will organize demonstrations in several cities. This is the fifth year of the “Make Amazon Pay” protests.
“Amazon’s relentless pursuit of profit comes at the expense of workers, the environment and democracy,” said Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union.
“Bezos's company has spent countless millions to prevent workers from organizing, but the strikes and protests happening around the world show that their desire for justice – for union representation – cannot be arrested. We are united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect basic rights, and stop undermining the systems that are supposed to protect us all.”
An Amazon spokesperson said: “These groups represent diverse interests and, while we are always listening and looking for ways to improve, we remain proud of competitive wages, extensive benefits and of the stimulating and safe work experience we offer our teams.”
Amazon says it is the world's largest buyer of renewable energy and that last year all of its electricity was generated from renewable energy sources. Company says its starting salary in the UK is at least £28,000 [33’544 euros] per year for positions of four days per week.
Campaign group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice says the company has no interim targets to reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2040, and that its annual carbon emissions have increased by 34,000. 5% since 2019.
At Amazon's Coventry warehouse, workers narrowly voted against union recognition in July, but the Trade Union Congress (TUC) insisted the battle for union recognition would continue. (Article published by The Guardian from November 25, 2024; translation writing Against)
