FRESH AMAZON STRIKES LOOM AS TWO NEW WAREHOUSES BEGIN INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOTS

Workers at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Mansfield and Rugeley begin voting on industrial action today, says GMB Union

Amazon faces new strikes at two more warehouses as GMB launches two new strike ballots today [Friday 12 May].

Union members will now vote on full and binding industrial action ballot at Amazon’s Mansfield and Rugeley fulfilment centres.

The new strikes ballots follow 14 days of strike action at the retail giant’s Coventry depot, which saw as many as 700 workers down tools in the UK’s first strike at an Amazon fulfilment centre.

The ballots at Rugeley and Mansfield will begin today and run for four weeks until 9 June.

As many as 150 workers are expected to be asked to vote in the ballot.

Amanda Gearing, GMB Senior Organiser, said:

“Amazon workers are fighting back against a pay rise of pennies from one of the world’s wealthiest corporations.

“This escalation will now see workers in two further fulfilment centres asked to have their say on downing tools and walking out to deliver pay justice.

“We’ve already seen enormous enthusiasm from workers at Mansfield and Rugeley to take action, now it will be up to their union to move forward with the campaign.

“We warned Amazon that this could fast become a summer of strike chaos if they refused to sit down and talk pay. Amazon Coventry workers have risen up, now we are seeing a domino effect.

“With strike action escalating and historical union recognition on the horizon, it’s time for Amazon to get real and get around the table