Posted on 11/22/2018 4:19:21 PM PST by Kaslin
Amazon employees at five the United Kingdom's largest warehouses are planning to stage rallies and protests on Black Friday to bring attention to their "inhumane conditions," Buzzfeed News reported. The protests are being staged by GMB Union who help negotiate on behalf of Amazon employees, although they aren't officially recognized. Other unions throughout Europe are coordinating similar protests in collaboration with GMB.
Workers in Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany are planning to walk off the job on Friday when the internet giant is scheduled to have Black Friday deals.
The main distribution centers who are protesting are in Rugeley, Milton Keynes, Warrington, Peterborough and Swansea.
GMB general secretary Tim Roache called on Amazon to negotiate with the union in a statement:
The conditions our members at Amazon are working under are frankly inhuman. They are breaking bones, being knocked unconscious and being taken away in ambulances.We're standing up and saying enough is enough, these are people making Amazon its money. People with kids, homes, bills to pay — they're not robots.
Jeff Bezos is the richest bloke on the planet; he can afford to sort this out. You'd think making the workplace safer so people aren't carted out of the warehouse in an ambulance is in everyone’s interest, but Amazon seemingly have no will to get round the table with us as the union representing hundreds of their staff.
Amazon said in a statement that they still plan to be fully operational on Friday and defended their company's working conditions:
Our European Fulfillment Network is fully operational and we continue to focus on delivering for our customers. Any reports to the contrary are simply wrong.We are a fair and responsible employer. We believe in continuous improvement across our network and maintain an open and direct dialogue with our associates.
These are good jobs with highly competitive pay, full benefits, and innovative training programs like Career Choice that pre-pays 95% of tuition for associates. In the UK, as an example, we recently increased the Amazon wage to start from £9.50 an hour and in the London are from £10.50 an hour.
The internet giant came under fire this summer when they tried to keep UK employees from unionizing.
Amazon, not so much, at least not for our interests.
It is a demonstration.
They are demonstrating why they should be replaced with robots.
Totally for this.
Bezos pretends to be Mr. Leftist Liberal Man of People, but he’s really just another sweatshop monopolist.
Democrat? Let’s see how he acts when his fulfillment center drones unionize.
Can’t wait to see Jeffy’s Virtue Signaling when that happens.
Because Thanksgiving and Black Friday aren’t big things in the UK.
DITTO! Chewy is great, woof, woof, woof, woof and woof.
Jeff Bezos is the richest bloke on the planet; he can afford to sort this out. You'd think making the workplace safer so people aren't carted out of the warehouse in an ambulance is in everyone’s interest, but Amazon seemingly have no will to get round the table with us as the union representing hundreds of their staff.
Riiiight, and coathanger/back alley abortions were *everywhere* before Roe v Wade. Bezos will automate everything and throw the bone idle slobs out of their jobs.
Why chewey.com? Are they cons ?
Amazon is now the wealthiest company on the planet and largely ununionized and that is what this all about.
If the union can get Amazon to meet with them regardless of whether they reach an agreement to change how Amazon treats the worker, the union wins. They will have brought Amazon to the table.
If Amazon wants to maintain their freedom of operation they will not meet with the union to discuss how non-union workers are treated.
This is a similar way to how the unions have attacked Walmart.
The largest companies will be attacked by the unions until they are unionized. Like the buck with the biggest rack they are the prize trophy waiting to be bagged and mounted.
I’ve started using Chewy for pet supplies. Very impressed. Great service, great prices.
Who knew they were being held against their will with guns pointed at their heads and being whipped into working for Amazon. The widdle whinies can turn in their resignations any day they wish and work elsewhere.
Thanksgiving holiday does not exist but I was surprised by all the black Friday ads on tv and radio when I was there last week.
They told me that it started with Amazon and all the stores jumped on board.
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