Strike Season Hits Amazon - Coventry Warehouse Workers In UK Strike Again: Report

Amazon.Com, Inc. AMZN is reportedly at the center of a labor dispute as over 1,000 workers at one of its central England warehouses are on strike. 

This action on Tuesday is part of a prolonged disagreement over wages, according to Reuters, citing a statement from the GMB trade union.

Employees at the Coventry location of the American retail behemoth intend to continue their strike on the following Wednesday and Thursday, as well as on November 24—Black Friday—a crucial day for Amazon's operations, the report added.

Also Read: US Labor Board Slaps Complaint On Amazon For Bargaining Anomalies

Employees at the Coventry site went on strike in January for the first time.

This recent move occurs following a year marked by broader industrial unrest across the U.K., with workers calling for more substantial wage increases to cope with surging inflation.

"We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, opportunities for career growth, all while working in a safe, modern, work environment," Amazon said in a statement, as noted by Reuters.

"At Amazon, these benefits and opportunities come with the job, as does the ability to communicate directly with the leadership of the company," the report added.

Also See: Exhaustion, Pain Push Some Amazon Warehouse Employees To Seek Unpaid Breaks, Study Reveals

Amazon, with a U.K. workforce of 75,000, announced last month that starting October 15, the minimum initial wage would go up by at least one pound per hour to a range of 11.80 to 12.50 pounds, varying by location, the report noted.

From April of the next year, these rates are set to climb to between 12.30 pounds and 13 pounds per hour, it added.

Amazon has stated that these pay hikes, amounting to 170 million pounds (or $209 million), would represent a 20% increase in their minimum starting salary over two years and a 50% rise since 2018, the Reuters report read. 

Price Action: AMZN shares are trading lower by 0.38% to $139.21 premarket on the last check Tuesday. 

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.