German union Verdi calls for ‘Prime Day’ strike by Amazon workers

BERLIN (Reuters) -German union Verdi has referred to as on employees at seven Amazon distribution centres to strike over Sunday night’s night time shift in a bid to power the retailer to just accept the union’s sectoral collective bargaining settlement.

Amazon mentioned it anticipated no influence on operations.

“Our energetic colleagues, who’ve been combating for years for a collective pay settlement with Amazon, deserve our respect for the braveness they preserve exhibiting on this confrontation with the employer,” mentioned Verdi official Stefanie Nutzenberger.

The strike motion is timed to coincide with Amazon’s low cost “Prime Day”, when heavy gross sales volumes are anticipated.

The union – one among Germany’s greatest – mentioned that though Amazon had repeatedly elevated wages over current years, the influence of this on employees had been moderated by prolonged working hours and low to non-existent compensation for public vacation shifts.

“There are not any prolonged working hours. That is nonsense,” mentioned an Amazon spokesperson, including that the staff didn’t in any case work on public holidays.

“Our critics demand what we have already carried out: Final yr we elevated wages throughout the nation to 12 euros gross upwards per hour and this autumn we’re rising them once more to at the least 12.50 euros,” he added.

Verdi mentioned it had referred to as the strike at distribution centres in Augsburg, Leipzig, Koblenz, Rheinberg, Werne and two centres in Unhealthy Hersfeld.

Its members employed by Amazon have been on strike many occasions earlier than over pay and situations.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Modifying by Hugh Lawson and David Evans)