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The GMB union has narrowly lost its bid for union recognition at the Amazon warehouse in Coventry.

In the ballot, 49.5% of workers voted in favour of unionizing, while 50.5% voted against, falling short of the required majority.

Had the GMB won, Amazon would have been compelled to negotiate with workers on pay and conditions.

Amazon responded by emphasizing its commitment to direct engagement with staff. "We look forward to continuing on that path with our team in Coventry," the company stated.

'Agonising' Result

The GMB described the result as “agonisingly short” and accused Amazon of "union-busting" tactics, citing "anti-union messages" and "multiple anti-union seminars" conducted by company bosses at the warehouse.

Despite the setback, the GMB declared that the movement initiated by workers in Coventry and across the UK would persist. "The fire lit by workers in Coventry and across the UK is still burning," the union asserted, vowing to "carry on the fight" for improved pay and recognition.

Stuart Richards, GMB's senior organiser, criticized Amazon for fostering a "culture of fear" among low-paid workers seeking better terms and conditions.

David vs Goliath Battle

The union recognition campaign was likened to a David vs Goliath struggle, with workers facing significant opposition from Amazon.

The push for union recognition began with a spontaneous protest in the summer of 2022. Dissatisfied with a proposed pay rise of just 35p to 50p an hour after working through the Covid pandemic, a small group of workers walked out and demonstrated outside the Coventry fulfilment centre.

The GMB soon got involved, urging workers to unionize. In January 2023, with a GMB membership of just 50, Coventry workers staged the first-ever Amazon strike in the UK. Over the past year, the union organized an additional 37 days of industrial action, steadily growing its membership to over 1,400 out of the centre's estimated 3,000 workers. Photo by dronepicr, Wikimedia commons. Photo by Scottish Government, Wikimedia commons.