Amazon workers in Coventry – the first in the UK to strike – face another six days of industrial action in an ongoing wage dispute.

The strikes by GMB union members will take place on April 16-18 and April 21-23. It follows action earlier this year.

The GMB has called for a wage increase from £10.50 to £15 an hour, although the US company does not recognize the union.

Amazon said its minimum wage has increased more than 37% since 2018, as have other benefits.

The firm has previously said only a “tiny fraction” of its Coventry workforce is involved in the dispute.

The GMB told the BBC it was on the verge of hiring enough workers for Amazon to recognize a union for the first time.

It also said it asked members at five other Midlands sites to vote on whether they would be willing to engage in industrial action.

Could Amazon recognize a UK union for the first time?

At the moment Amazon does not recognize the GMB and will therefore not deal with them, but the union is hoping that will soon change at the Coventry warehouse.

It says it’s on the verge of signing up enough members on the site for the company to recognize them.

The GMB union estimates that 1,300 people work at the camp, of whom 560 are union members.

If the union succeeds in hiring more than half of the workforce, it will apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) for “legal recognition”.

The GMB recruits an average of 30 people a day to join the union on strike days.

Regarding legal recognition, the CAC says: “The basic principle is that recognition is granted if a majority of workers in the bargaining unit so desires… The CAC can, without a vote, declare the union recognized if more than 50% of the workers in the bargaining unit are union members.”

Voting is taking place online to assess the level of support for strike action.

Hundreds of workers at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire; Coalville in Leicestershire; Kegworth in Leicestershire; Rugeley in Staffordshire; and Rugby in Warwickshire will take part in the vote, the union said.

However, labor disputes at these locations could only take place if the union then carried out another postal vote, the majority of which ended in favor of a strike.

A spokesman for Amazon said it regularly reviews wages and announced a pay rise for British workers in March.

Minimum wages for employees have increased by 10% over the past seven months and by more than 37% since 2018, they added.

“We also work hard to provide great benefits, a positive work environment and excellent career opportunities,” the spokesman said.

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Amazon workers in Coventry – the first in the UK to strike – face another six days of industrial action in an ongoing wage dispute.

The strikes by GMB union members will take place on April 16-18 and April 21-23. It follows action earlier this year.

The GMB has called for a wage increase from £10.50 to £15 an hour, although the US company does not recognize the union.

Amazon said its minimum wage has increased more than 37% since 2018, as have other benefits.

The firm has previously said only a “tiny fraction” of its Coventry workforce is involved in the dispute.

The GMB told the BBC it was on the verge of hiring enough workers for Amazon to recognize a union for the first time.

It also said it asked members at five other Midlands sites to vote on whether they would be willing to engage in industrial action.

Could Amazon recognize a UK union for the first time?

At the moment Amazon does not recognize the GMB and will therefore not deal with them, but the union is hoping that will soon change at the Coventry warehouse.

It says it’s on the verge of signing up enough members on the site for the company to recognize them.

The GMB union estimates that 1,300 people work at the camp, of whom 560 are union members.

If the union succeeds in hiring more than half of the workforce, it will apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) for “legal recognition”.

The GMB recruits an average of 30 people a day to join the union on strike days.

Regarding legal recognition, the CAC says: “The basic principle is that recognition is granted if a majority of workers in the bargaining unit so desires… The CAC can, without a vote, declare the union recognized if more than 50% of the workers in the bargaining unit are union members.”

Voting is taking place online to assess the level of support for strike action.

Hundreds of workers at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire; Coalville in Leicestershire; Kegworth in Leicestershire; Rugeley in Staffordshire; and Rugby in Warwickshire will take part in the vote, the union said.

However, labor disputes at these locations could only take place if the union then carried out another postal vote, the majority of which ended in favor of a strike.

A spokesman for Amazon said it regularly reviews wages and announced a pay rise for British workers in March.

Minimum wages for employees have increased by 10% over the past seven months and by more than 37% since 2018, they added.

“We also work hard to provide great benefits, a positive work environment and excellent career opportunities,” the spokesman said.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter And Instagram. Submit your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk