News

Amazon workers in Germany are increasing the pressure on the company to enter into collective bargaining by holding a three-day strike at centres in Leipzig and Bad Hersfeld.



Workers from UNI’s German affiliate Ver.di began the action on Thursday, 19 September in response to Amazon’s salary model. The company currently uses its own internal remuneration system that is well below the rates of the retail and mail order sector in Germany. It has so far refused to recognise the union or enter into negotiations.



"It is unacceptable that Amazon does not apply the sector relevant collective agreement and instead creates a competitive advantage at the expense of the employees" said Bernhard Schiederig, Chief Negotiator for Verdi in Bad Hersfeld.



Jörg Lauenroth-Mago, who is responsible for the Leipzig Amazon centre, spoke in favour of intensifying the labour dispute: "Amazon should expect an escalation with more strikes which will be especially hurting the company during the Christmas season. We will not let that the No. 1 in the business undermine the usual standards in the sector. "



UNI’s Head of Commerce Alke Boessiger said, “It appears that time is finally running out for Amazon because they will not want this action dragging into the Christmas period. The management needs to realise that their way of treating workers is unacceptable in Germany or any other country.

“We believe that a global company needs a global policy to handle issues of working rights, and we are fully backing the cause of Amazon’s workers in Germany.

Bad Hersfeld and Leipzig are the oldest Amazon centres in Germany. There are now six other locations: Werne, Rheinberg, Koblenz, digging Pforzheim, Brieselang.



Watch this short film providing background on the Amazon strikes in Germany: "Matthias, worker at Amazon Germany: "We are people, not robots"

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