Amazon workers at brand new Birmingham warehouse to go on strike

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Workers at Amazon’s new flagship fulfilment centre have voted to be a part of ongoing strike motion at the corporate, GMB union has introduced in the present day.

Employees at the Birmingham warehouse will down instruments on Thursday 25 January, the anniversary of the primary ever official strike motion at a UK Amazon warehouse.

Amazon’s new £500 million Birmingham fulfilment centre opened it’s doorways at the top of 2023 and would be the third Amazon office to face strike motion.

Amazon confronted practically 30 days of strike motion within the final twelve months, with greater than 1,000 workers participating in industrial motion to mark the retail large’s Black Friday occasion in November.

The Coventry centre, web site of the Black Friday November motion, was thought-about one of many busiest in Amazon’s UK operations, certainly one of solely two comparable websites.

A employee informed The Independent in November: “Some of my colleagues are doing multiple jobs barely seeing their partners or kids,” she stated.

“Amazon is one of the richest companies in the world, its founder is busy building rockets yet the people who made him that fortune are on the breadline, going to food banks, pawning items to make ends meet.”

She stated that working at the corporate was each “physically and mentally draining” as heavy lifting for ten hours an evening took its toll and accidents occured.

Rachel Fagan, GMB Organiser, stated: “The industrial chaos Amazon faces isn’t going to disappear; it’s growing every day.

“We’re just weeks into the new year, but are already seeing the strike action spread to new Amazon workplaces.

“For workers to down tools at Amazon’s new Birmingham HQ, just weeks after it opened it’s doors, goes to show how furious Amazon workers in the UK are.

“One year on from the first strike day the message from GMB members at Amazon is the same; recognise our union and end poverty pay”.

Amazon have stated the motion will trigger “zero disruption” for patrons.

An Amazon spokesperson informed The Independent: “Just 19 GMB Union members out of our 2,000 Sutton Coldfield fulfilment centre colleagues have voted in favour of industrial action. It will cause zero disruption for our customers.

“We regularly review our pay to ensure we offer competitive wages and benefits. By April 2024, our minimum starting pay will have increased to £12.30 and £13 per hour depending on location, that’s a 20% increase over two years and 50% since 2018.

“We also work hard to provide great benefits, a positive work environment and excellent career opportunities. These are just some of the reasons people want to come and work at Amazon, whether it’s their first job, a seasonal role or an opportunity for them to advance their career.”