Amazon workers at the BHX4 warehouse in Coventry have voted by a 98% majority, on a 63% turnout, for strikes to win a £15/hour minimum wage. An Amazon worker and GMB union activist spoke to Solidarity about the campaign in the workplace. (The interview was conducted prior to the announcement of the ballot result.)
What's your experience of working for Amazon?
I started working for Amazon back in 2014, firstly as an agency worker at BHX1, which is the infamous fulfillment centre in Rugeley, Staffordshire, and then came to BHX4 as a permanent member of staff when it opened in July 2018. Over my time I've done a variety of roles in different departments that range from dealing with the items arriving here from the manufacturers, to gift wrapping customers' orders before they are sent to distribution centres at FCs. I've been an instructor for six of those years, as well as a department lead for about a year. The only job I haven't done in the Amazon chain is the actual delivery of items to customers.
What's the mood amongst your workmates as you ballot for potential industrial action?
To be honest, there's a real mixture of attitudes. The general mood in the building is very down, and toxic. I think those of us who are long-term staff have in some ways got used to being walked over by the company. But the tide is thankfully turning. I think the way we have been spoken to and treated the last few months has really riled some into action. Obviously there are some who don't think we stand a chance, there are those who've been in the fight since day one, and then of course the ones on the fence in the middle. Obviously Amazon hires a lot of temporary and migrant workers, who are maybe not sure of what a union is, or what their rights are. But the more Amazon tries to push its anti-union agenda and briefings, the more they are asking questions and signing up. The undercurrent mood is slowly getting more and more positive and hopeful. And I think after the ballot results, which hopefully this time will go our way, not only will more join, but other sites will also step up and action on a wider scale will happen.
What are the key issues facing workers? What are you fighting for?
Obviously a decent wage. Amazon is one of the richest companies in the world, so it should pay its staff a decent wage. And, equally as important, to have our voices heard, in terms of being individuals not robots. Better rights and working conditions.
How have you built up the union in the workplace, and how have you organised the ballot campaign?
It's been done very much on an individual basis, by talking to people one-to-one. After the initial sit-in and walk-out protests, the GMB heard about a protest that was taking place in Coventry town centre. They attended and made contact with workers. They then set up a WhatsApp group, workers spread the number amongst their friends, and it soon had the maximum number of members. So then another group appeared, as well as on other forms of social media where much larger numbers of participants can be included.
Within these groups, a certain number of individual including myself were kind of noticed to be a little more active or clued up on unions than others, attending some of the early meetings, talking to the GMB reps that were on the gate daily, and they contacted us individually asking us if we would be interested in being the face of the union in the building, talking and answering questions. We've received some fantastic training. We all come from very different backgrounds and nationalities, ages, and gender. And we all work different shifts and in different departments and so we've all been focusing on talking to the individuals that we come into contact with. Due to feeling like we're being watched by management and some of their threats, we've tried to do this discreetly as possible. And as I've said, some of what the company have said and done has worked against them.
Social media has been a god send, not only for the fact that we can connect with our colleagues at other sites, but also because we are able to message everyone with information or answers. We are also using platforms such as Twitter, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. We've had so many folk posting images/videos of themselves sending their ballot back, it's truly amazing.
Have the unionisation efforts of Amazon workers internationally, especially in the USA, inspired you?
Absolutely. What Chris Smalls and Derrick Palmer achieved in Staten Island proved that we can beat Amazon and their union busting message. They've given every other site the hope. We've definitely felt inspired by them, some of my colleagues have even had a webcast with Derrick. And in turn, we know that we are now being watched, and inspiring sites across Europe. If all goes to plan, we hope to meet up with more of these groups - be it via the wonders of the internet or in-person, and build up a network that way, both on a UK, European and worldwide scale. Just watching what's happening in the US, the tide is definitely turning, more sites are organising and hopefully unionising. There's been some monumental laws passed, including the one prohibiting Amazon's union-bashing, so there's definitely a change in the wind. And we are running with it.
Your campaign is taking place against the backdrop of a significant upsurge in workers' struggles in the UK, with major strikes in rail, post, healthcare, education, and other sectors. Has this context encouraged your efforts?
It's definitely an interesting climate. However, when I am talking to people, I always say, "look at the French". Whenever they are unhappy about events or issues, they take to the streets and protest. The same could be said about a lot of other countries. But not here. And yes, unions have been here for years, but not since the 1980s, has there been anything like there is now, in my opinion. Again, another point I try to stress to people is that if the rail workers, the posties, the NHS workers, who have just had a historic vote, are all doing it, then why cant we stand up for ourselves and our rights?
We worked all during Covid, and were classed as key workers. The general public expect same-day delivery from Amazon, but that comes at a cost to us in terms of our health, both mentally and physically. And workers are struggling to pay their bills or feed their kids. And I think the economic climate has been a real boost, and while Jeff Bezos' billions is frustrating especially when he went and brought another rocket (which goes against Amazon's green and climate policy), but I think people have had enough of a small percentage of people getting rich off our backs, expecting us to work like robots or having to do more and more shifts or longer hours to try and make ends meet. Our takes are going up, yet Bezos cleverly put Amazon's European HQ in Luxembourg, where they pay no tax. So all these things have been boiling up, and I know from reading the papers or talking to people from other striking industries that similar things have been happening in their situation.
What can others in the trade union movement do to support you?
The support that we have already received is overwhelming, just looking across social media or at a rally we had on Black Friday. People who don't know us from Adam, but went out their way to come to the rally or send us messages, either directly or through the GMB, which we then share via the groups. It means so, so, so much to us. Hearing some of their success stories really spurs us on. And in turn, we are sending messages of support to other groups. That's all we can ask for really: any messages of support, turning up to any events if you're local, following and sharing the social media. Try not to buy from Amazon, but if you do, in your review post a comment like, "pay your workers a fair wage".