For the first time, Amazon UK may be compelled to recognize a trade union as its warehouse workers prepare to vote next month.
The GMB union has initiated the voting process at Amazon's Coventry depot, involving more than 3,000 employees. These workers will participate in a series of 45-minute meetings with both union representatives and the company, where each side will present their arguments.
Voting will take place in the workplace starting on July 8, with the results expected to be announced after July 15.
If the majority of employees vote in favor of union recognition, GMB will be authorized to represent them in negotiations concerning pay, working hours, and holidays with Amazon.
The decision to hold a ballot comes after the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), an independent statutory body that oversees collective bargaining rights, ruled in April that a vote should be conducted at the Coventry distribution center to assess support for union recognition.
GMB senior organizer Amanda Gearing remarked, “This is a historic moment. Amazon is one of the world’s most hostile and anti-union employers. They’re a multi-billion-pound global company investing huge energy to resist efforts by working-class people in Coventry to fight for a better life.
“But right here in Coventry, Amazon workers have rejected Amazon’s attempts to undermine their union. Instead, they’ve stood up to be counted and demanded the chance to vote on union recognition. Now Amazon workers, not the bosses, will decide.”
An Amazon spokesperson responded, “Our employees have the choice of whether or not to join a union. They always have. Across Amazon, we place enormous value on having daily conversations and engagement with our employees. It’s a strong part of our work culture. We value that direct relationship, and so do our employees.
“We regularly review our pay to ensure we offer competitive wages and benefits. Our minimum starting pay has increased to £12.30 and £13 per hour depending on location – that’s a 20% increase over two years and 50% since 2018.
“We also work hard to provide great benefits, a positive work environment, and excellent career opportunities. These are just some of the reasons people want to come and work at Amazon, whether it’s their first job, a seasonal role, or an opportunity for them to advance their career.”
This pivotal moment for Amazon UK workers could mark a significant shift in how the company interacts with its employees and handles labor relations in the future. Photo byM J Richardson, Wikimedia commons.