Strikes and demonstrations around Europe during Black Friday shopping hurt Amazon

 Strikes and demonstrations around Europe during Black Friday shopping hurt Amazon

A German representative for Amazon said that relatively few employees are on strike and that salaries are competitive, with beginning pay exceeding 14 euros ($15.27) per hour.

A German representative for Amazon said that relatively few employees are on strike and that salaries are competitive, with beginning pay exceeding 14 euros ($15.27) per hour.

On one of the biggest shopping days of the year, employees at many Amazon shops around Europe went on strike on Friday in protest of the US e-commerce giant's business methods.

After Black Friday, when many merchants lower their prices to encourage sales, by Monday, there will be strikes and demonstrations in over 30 countries, according to the "Make Amazon Pay" campaign, which is organized by UNI Global Union.

Black Friday, which was first popularized by the throngs of people who raced to big-box retailers in the US, has expanded internationally and online, thanks in part to Amazon, which this year started selling its goods on November 17. There are advertisements for holiday bargains until November 27.

Trade union Verdi estimates that over 2,000 workers went on strike at six Amazon fulfillment sites in Germany, which is Amazon's second-largest market by sales last year.

It said that around 250 workers, or 20% of the workforce, had gone on strike at a warehouse in Leipzig, and that 500 workers, or roughly 40% of the workforce, had done the same at a warehouse in Rhineberg.

A German representative for Amazon said that relatively few employees are on strike and that salaries are competitive, with beginning pay exceeding 14 euros ($15.27) per hour. According to the spokesman, Black Friday purchases will be delivered consistently and on schedule.

In a protracted salary dispute, more than 200 employees at an Amazon warehouse in Coventry, England, went on strike on Friday.

A worker at the warehouse, Nick Henderson, said he was on strike demanding improved pay and working conditions. The warehouse acts as a logistical center for Amazon, processing items to transport to other warehouses.

The striking employees want a 15-pound ($18.69) per hour pay raise.

According to a representative for Amazon UK, the minimum beginning salary varies by area and will be between £11.80 and £13 per hour commencing in April 2024. Amazon stated there will be no interruptions due to the walkout.

More than 60% of employees at an Amazon warehouse in Castell San Giovanni, Italy, were reportedly on strike, according to trade union CGIL. However, Amazon said that more than 86% of its staff had reported to work and that there had been no disruption to business as usual.

Amazon delivery and warehouse employees have been urged by the Spanish union CCOO to walk out for one hour during each shift on "Cyber Monday" of the next week.

According to Attack, an anti-globalization movement that organized the demonstration, posters were displayed on Amazon's parcel lockers in France, which are used by many consumers to collect purchases. These lockers are found in train stations, supermarket parking lots, and street corners. There was tape all over the barriers.

Attack claimed that 40 lockers nationwide were targeted and referred to Black Friday as a "celebration of overproduction and overconsumption". According to Amazon, all of its lockers in France are still open.

In Europe, Amazon is still well-liked, but competitors like Shein and Teemu have grown quickly. As to data.ai, in October, there were 146 million active users of Amazon applications in Europe, while Shein and Teemu had 64 million and 51 million users, respectively.

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