The latest round of strikes at Amazon’s BHX4 warehouse in Coventry, on 12-14 June, saw mass pickets of nearly 500 workers. Activists report that morale amongst workers remains high, with new workplace leaders stepping up to join the organising group. Further strikes are planned, but with no dates set.
Ballots for industrial action at other Amazon sites in Mansfield and Rugeley returned large majorities for strikes, but missed the 50% turnout threshold. GMB plans an immediate re-ballot at Rugeley.
The union estimates that Amazon is spending between £1.3 million and £2.6 million per month on obstructing the unionisation drive, mainly via the costs of employing new starters, which Amazon has done to inflate the workforce figures and push GMB’s membership back below 50%. GMB organisers report considerable success in recruiting those new starters to the union.
Labour leader Keir Starmer was questioned by Amazon strikers at GMB’s recent congress, including around whether a Labour government would make union recognition a condition in public procurement.