Global site navigation

Local editions

German union calls on Amazon workers to strike on 'Black Friday'
Technology

German union calls on Amazon workers to strike on 'Black Friday'

by  AFP 1 min read
The Black Friday strike in Germany affects five out of Amazon's 20 logistic sites in the country
The Black Friday strike in Germany affects five out of Amazon's 20 logistic sites in the country. Photo: Ina FASSBENDER / AFP/File
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Follow our WhatsApp channel to never miss out on the news that matters to you!

Union Verdi called on workers at online retail giant Amazon in Germany to go on strike on the annual "Black Friday" shopping extravaganza, in their battle for better working conditions.

The industrial action began in the night to Friday, and affects five out of Amazon's 20 logistic sites in Germany including Leipzig, Rheinberg, and Dortmund.

Amazon in a statement shrugged off the impact on the strike during the busy shopping season.

"Clients can count on reliable and punctual deliveries as usual," it said, adding that workers already benefit from "fair wage and good additional benefits".

Starting wages are at 14 euros ($15.30) and up per hour, the company said, above Germany's minimum wage of 12 euros.

It added that more than half of its employees have been working for the group for more than five years.

Read also

Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully completes hot-fire test

PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!

But Verdi is pushing for the company to recognise the regional collective agreements of the retail and mail order sector.

"Only collective agreements offer workers binding protection from arbitrary company policies," said Silke Zimmer, who heads the union's retail sector.

"The workers at Amazon have renamed Black Friday as Make Amazon Pay Day," she added.

Held the day after Thanksgiving, "Black Friday" is increasingly copied in Europe and beyond, with stores offering deep discounts to kick off the holiday gift-giving season.

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: