17 July 2024
Workers demonstrating at Amazon’s UK headquarters in London on Black Friday, 24 November 2023. GMB is part of a broad multi-national coalition which organised “Make Amazon Pay” events. Photo Ron Fassbender / Alamy Live News.
Amazon UK workers have fallen just short of a majority in their recognition ballot, facing aggressive employer action. Their union, GMB, said that the fight for recognition and improved conditions continues.
Around 2,600 of the 3,000 workers at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse voted on union recognition, after a long campaign and strikes by workers already union members. Demonstrations took place on 8 July at other Amazon sites and at the company’s London HQ.
The result, announced on 17 July, was just 28 votes short of the necessary majority. GMB said that the lead shown by the Coventry workers would resound across Britain.
Threats
GMB said that Amazon has relentlessly opposed the ballot – including threats and actions the union alleges are illegal. This is part of the culture of fear which workers are attempt to counter.
The company still faces outstanding legal action by 900 workers claiming unlawful inducement to give up union membership.
“The fire lit by workers in Coventry is still burning.”
GMB organiser Amanda Gearing said, “This kind of union-busting has no place in 21st century Britain; but this is just the beginning. Amazon now faces a legal challenge, while the fire lit by workers in Coventry and across the UK is still burning.”
Amazon has become one of the country’s largest employers with over 75,000 permanent employees in Britain.
Amazon is implacably opposed to any union recognition. Workers – in the USA as well as in Britain – have conducted a long and difficult struggle for recognition, as a step towards securing decent pay and conditions.