{"id":85126,"date":"2023-02-28T08:42:04","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T08:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2023\/02\/28\/amazon-workers-in-coventry-take-second-day-of-strike-action\/"},"modified":"2023-02-28T08:42:04","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T08:42:04","slug":"amazon-workers-in-coventry-take-second-day-of-strike-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2023\/02\/28\/amazon-workers-in-coventry-take-second-day-of-strike-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon workers in Coventry take second day of strike action"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Union members at an Amazon distribution center have begun a second day of industrial action. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In January, workers at the Coventry depot became the first in Britain to go on strike against the online retail giant over pay. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The GMB union is demanding a wage increase from \u00a310.50 to \u00a315 an hour, despite not recognizing the union from Amazon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Amazon said it offers competitive pay, up 29% since 2018, along with other benefits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Another day of action is scheduled for Thursday and for a week between March 13th and 17th. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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About 1,500 people work at the Coventry site, where Amazon inventory is scanned and shipped to fulfillment centers for shipment to consumers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The GMB said more than 350 staff at the center are expected to intervene in the dispute. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Union official Stuart Richards said about 200 workers were off the premises as of Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Official pickets managed to persuade two trucks and “a whole bunch” of workers to turn away from the site, he said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Striking employees were “incredibly optimistic” after the first industrial action, he added. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“The members are self-organizing so it was amazing to see them getting so enthusiastic and continuing the fight for pay.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Amazon said only a “tiny fraction” of its workforce was involved in the dispute. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“In fact, according to verified figures, only a fraction of 1% of our UK staff took part in the vote – and that includes those who voted against industrial action,” it said in a statement. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWe appreciate the great work our teams put in throughout the year and are proud to offer competitive pay, starting at a minimum of between \u00a310.50 and \u00a311.45 per hour, depending on location .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“In addition, employees are offered comprehensive benefits worth thousands more, including private health insurance, life insurance, subsidized meals and an employee discount, to name a few.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Follow BBC West Midlands on <\/i>Facebook, <\/i>Twitter<\/a> And <\/i>Instagram. Submit your story ideas to: <\/i>newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n