Bbc
Amazon staff in Coventry start Black Friday strike
S.Wright3 months ago
Amazon staff in Coventry start Black Friday strike By Caroline Gall & PA news agency BBC News, West Midlands Staff in Coventry began strikes in January and most recently took action at the beginning of the month Amazon staff are on strike on Friday, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year, in an ongoing row over pay. Members of the GMB union will walk out at the firm's Coventry site and set up a picket outside. Strikes and demonstrations will happen in other European countries and the US, which unions said was the biggest day of action in the firm's history. A spokesperson for Amazon said the industrial action would not affect customers. The GMB Union said more than about 1,000 workers in Coventry were taking part. They have staged several days of industrial action as part of their dispute and were the first of the firm's UK workers to go on strike in January. GMB official Amanda Gearing, said: "Today will go down as a turning point in Amazon's history. "Working people who make Amazon's business model possible stand up to demand their share of the company's enormous wealth. "Despite that, Amazon bosses are desperate to claim it will be business as usual for Amazon and their customers this Black Friday. "The truth is that today will see the largest day of industrial disruption in Amazon's history." British consumers are expected to spend billions of pounds on Black Friday, although some experts have warned that deals might be better at other times of the year A spokesperson for the firm said: "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." The National Living Wage is set to rise from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour , from April, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in the Autumn Statement on Wednesday. Amazon said its pay was also above the voluntary Real Living Wage, which stands at £12 an hour for workers outside of London, and offered other benefits. Facebook , X and Instagram . Send your story ideas to:
Read the full article:https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-67512859
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