Amazon shoppers may experience package delivery delays over the next several days as the company’s employees and their allies in 20 countries on six continents go on strike during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
The strike, dubbed Make Amazon Pay, is scheduled for November 29-December 2 and is spearheaded by UNI Global Union and Progressive International. The organizers “aim to hold Amazon accountable for labour abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy,” according to a press release. Demonstrations are planned in major cities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil, Germany, India, Bangladesh, and France.
“Amazon’s relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy,” said General Secretary of UNI Global Union, Christy Hoffman. “[Jeff] Bezos’s company has spent untold millions to stop workers from organizing, but the strikes and protests happening around the world show that workers’ desire for justice – for union representation – can’t be stopped.
“We stand united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect fundamental rights, and stop undermining the systems meant to protect us all. ‘Make Amazon Pay Day’ is becoming a global act of resistance against Amazon’s abuse of power.”
The demonstrators are seeking higher wages, better working conditions, and to be allowed to unionize, ABC News reported. Last year, workers at an Amazon warehouse in Kentucky accused the company of carrying on a union-busting campaign.
“This group is being intentionally misleading and continues to promote a false narrative,” said Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards, per ABC News. “The fact is at Amazon we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities — all from day one. We’ve created more than 1.5 million jobs around the world, and counting, and we provide a modern, safe, and engaging workplace whether you work in an office or at one of our operations buildings.”
Amazon employees in the U.S. earn between $18.50 to $29.50 per hour, depending on the position and location, with an increase in hourly wages every year, according to the company’s website. The company offers health, vision, and dental insurance for employees from day one of hire, as well as up to 20 weeks of paid pregnancy/parental leave for birth parents.
This is the fifth year of the Make Amazon Pay movement, which was launched on Black Friday in 2020.
“Each year, the movement has expanded, bringing together a growing coalition of unions, activists, and allies demanding that Amazon prioritize people over profits. With the participation of over 30 unions, environmental organizations, and civil society groups, Make Amazon Pay Day challenges Amazon’s power with a unified call for systemic change,” organizers said in a press release.