Amazon workers strike for better pay in Germany

Amazon workers have gone on strike across four separate logistics centres in Germany as part of a campaign for better pay and working conditions.

The strike began on Monday 15^th April, and was co-ordinated by Verdi: a Trade Union representing workers across a number of sectors, including postal, shipping and logistics. It comes during a busy period for 3PL and last-mile logistics in particular as we approach the Easter bank holiday.

The current strike is expected to last until Thursday 18^th, but it has been suggested that others may join over the Easter Holiday period.

The action has been instigated to encourage a collective agreement for better pay and conditions – a movement which has been long requested by Verdi. Retail employees and other mail-order workers currently see similar agreements; however, Amazon’s rebuttal continues on the basis that their staff are paid above the industry average. The giant also disputes the qualification of its workers being either retail or mail order-related, and reiterates its position as a logistics company.

“The employees are not giving up,” Verdi board member Stefanie Nutzenberger said in a statement.

“They want to put an end to the arbitrariness of a company that puts pressure on its employees with stressful work and controls.”

An Amazon spokesperson has said the company has only seen ‘very limited’ participation in the strike, according to a report by Reuters. Their spokesperson advised that customer operations and deliveries wouldn’t see a negative impact at this time.

Amazon have also stated that it is possible to be a fair and responsible employer without a collective agreement.

The strike continues.