Black Friday is typically one of the busiest shopping days of the year, with many retailers, including Amazon, offering huge discounts on many items....For More CONTINUE THE FULL READING▶▶
However, more than 1,000 workers at the company’s Coventry site are set to walk out over pay from November 7 until November 9 as well as on Black Friday which falls on November 24.
Black Friday symbolises the first shopping day in the build-up to the festive holiday season, giving shoppers an opportunity to get some bargains.
The strike announcement comes a day after the company offered a pay rise for staff of at least £1 an hour, which will be effective from October 15.
Despite this, Amazon employees will take part in this strike which is said to be the biggest in Amazon’s history.
Rachel Fagan, GMB organiser, said: “This is an unprecedented and historic moment with low-paid workers taking on one of the world’s most powerful corporations.
“This is our members’ response to the failure of Amazon bosses to listen. Coventry is the beating heart of Amazon’s distribution network.
“Strike action here on Black Friday will ripple throughout the company’s UK logistics.
“As Black Friday looms, Amazon must urgently reconsider their priorities or risk strike action causing widespread disruption to customers and the public.”
Amazon previously explained that the Coventry site does not directly serve customer orders so there should not be any impact.
The company announced a pay rise for its staff yesterday, with pay for frontline employees rising to between £11.80 and £12.50 an hour, with further increases set to come in next April.
John Boumphrey, Amazon UK’s country manager, said: “We have some of the most talented colleagues around and we’re proud to offer them competitive wages and benefits, as well as fantastic opportunities for career development, all in a safe and modern work environment.
“These are just some of the reasons people want to work at Amazon, whether it’s their first job, a seasonal role or an opportunity for them to advance their career.”
The Amazon Black Friday sales generally start on October 18, the week approaching the day itself, with them lasting until Cyber Monday sometimes.
