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UNI Global Union fully supports Amazon workers in France, Germany and Poland who are taking industrial action because of poor working conditions, the anti-union behaviour by management and their refusal to negotiate.

UNI Global Union’s Head of Commerce, Alke Boessiger said, ”UNI is sending solidarity messages and working closely on the ground with our German, French and Polish affiliates.

“Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos still doesn’t get it – industrial action will continue to spread at Amazon’s warehouses until workers are treated like human beings and not robots, and are able to collectively bargain for fair work conditions and decent pay. Bezos seems more concerned about space travel than the fair treatment of the workforce which has given him the billions to fulfil his wildest dreams. All the Amazon workers want is a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and to be treated with respect. That is not too much to ask. Management is refusing to acknowledge the workers’ legitimate demand for union recognition and collective bargaining and thus the workers have been forced to resort to industrial action.

“We do not accept the Amazon model for the new world of work. A model being investigated by the European Commission for alleged tax avoidance and one where legal strikes in Germany are being broken by the company sending work to neighbouring France or Poland in contravention of European legislation.”

"Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos sending out misery, rather than Christmas cheer"

In Germany industrial action has spread across a number of Amazon warehouses, including Bad Hersfeld, Leipzig, Rheinberg and Werne as well as Koblenz.

In Poland, workers have begun in picketing in Wroclaw. And at the warehouse in Saran (France) strikes will go on every weekend until Christmas.

Media Contact: Richard Elliott richard.elliott@uniglobalunion.org +41 79 794 9709