After a strike by the Verdi union, Amazon employees in several locations in Germany have stopped working. Verdi spokesmen said the strike started at the start of the night shift and is expected to last until Wednesday. Verdi did not mention a planned end to the campaign. The union demands that Amazon recognize the collective labor agreement for the retail trade and mail order companies and conclude a collective agreement.
Amazon does not expect the strikes to affect customers, the company said. The strike call applies to a total of seven Amazon.de distribution centers in Graben near Augsburg, Leipzig, Koblenz, Rheinberg, Werne and at two locations in Bad Hersfeld. According to union information, about 700 workers initially took part in the strike in Bad Hersfeld, 450 in Rheinberg and about 300 in Graben near Augsburg.
The reason for the strike is Prime Day
According to the union, the reason for the strike is Amazon’s “Prime Day” discount campaign, which begins Tuesday (July 12). In its statement, the company points out that all employees at Amazon earn at least 12 euros per hour, in the autumn the minimum wage should increase to 12.50 euros per hour. After 24 months, the average salary of Amazon employees is around 2750 euros gross per month.
In fact, Amazon has anticipated raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour, Verdi also said. However, by forgoing special benefits such as Christmas and holiday allowances and longer working hours, the actual income of employees often fell below that of colleagues in comparable companies.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
