Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Amazon employees across multiple countries, including Italy, Germany, and the US, initiated a strike on Black Friday, a peak shopping day, in protest against the company’s labor practices.

This strike, coordinated by the UNI Global Union, saw significant participation with hundreds of workers at Amazon warehouses in Coventry, UK, and various German cities. The UK’s GMB Union, instrumental in organizing the protests, declared the strike as “the biggest industrial action in Amazon’s history” on social media platform X.

The strike forms part of the ongoing “Make Amazon Pay” campaign, active for the last four years, aiming to hold Amazon accountable for perceived unfair labor practices.

Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, said, “This day of action grows every year because the movement to hold Amazon accountable keeps getting bigger and stronger. Workers know that it doesn’t matter what country you’re in or what your job title is, we are all united in the fight for higher wages, an end to unreasonable quotas, and a voice on the job.”

Jessie Moreno, a member of the Amazon Teamsters from Local 396 in California, echoed these sentiments, saying, “We have taken our picket line across the country and now we’re joining our colleagues from around the world to demand respect, fair wages, and a workplace where our health and safety are a priority. Amazon is no match for the power of its workers united.”

In response to the strike and allegations, Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis challenged the accuracy of many claims, saying the “vast majority of these allegations are false or misinformed. The fact is Amazon has created millions of good jobs, while helping create and support hundreds of thousands of small businesses around the world. We offer great pay and benefits for our employees with great career opportunities, and provide a modern and safe working environment for all.”