Amazon trailers at Milton Keynes. Photo Stephen Dewhurst/shutterstock.com
The ballot process for trade union recognition began at Amazon UK on 19 June. More than 3,000 Amazon workers will now take part in a month-long process which will include a vote at the Coventry fulfilment centre that saw strike action in 2023.
Workplace voting will start on 8 July. The result will be announced on 15 July. If there is a vote of 40 per cent or above in favour of recognition, it will be a historic moment as it would mark the first time that Amazon will have been compelled to recognise a trade union in Britain.
The GMB union first began its campaign for recognition 18 months ago involving a lengthy dispute with Amazon which has seen more than 30 days of strike action. Workers in the city of Coventry with their long history of trade union activity have been at the forefront of that dispute.
This first step towards union recognition is important, as Amazon now has more than 70,000 employees in Britain.