Amazon employees are holding back a 'big trick'. On Thursday, strike organizers announced that Amazon employees in over 20 countries, including the United States, plan to go on strike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday to make Amazon pay the price.
The strikers, together with global unions and progressive international organizations, claim that the strike aims to demand that Amazon take responsibility for violating labor rights, environmental degradation, and threatening democracy.
The union secretary Christy Hoffman emphasized that from India to the United States, from the United Kingdom to Canada, workers are rising up against exploitation and corporate intimidation. The "Make Amazon Pay" campaign is a powerful proof of workers' unity, and no company can suppress workers' demands for justice.
Organizers said the strike countries include the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Brazil, India and Türkiye. The strike will take place from Black Friday, November 29th to Cyber Monday, December 2nd.
Escalation of labor disputes
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the largest shopping seasons of the year in European and American countries, and consumers usually spend a considerable amount of money on holiday gifts. Last year, Amazon's total sales during the holiday period exceeded $170 billion, accounting for 18% of the global Black Friday sales.
The strike at this shopping festival is undoubtedly a ruthless attack by the workers. Analysts are concerned that the strike may result in delayed delivery of goods during Amazon's Black Friday shopping season, thereby reducing overall transaction volume.
Amazon responded to the strike action on Thursday. Company spokesperson Eileen Hards stated that the organizers intentionally misled and spread false statements. In fact, Amazon has always provided generous compensation, benefits, and excellent career opportunities. Amazon has created over 1.5 million job opportunities worldwide and will continue to increase its team size.
Amazon announced earlier this year that it will invest $2.2 billion to increase the salaries of its delivery and transportation employees in the United States. According to the company, the average base salary of these employees is now over $22 per hour, and if benefits are included, the average total salary reaches over $29 per hour.
Amazon also stated that employees can enjoy comprehensive benefits from the first day of employment, including health, vision, and dental insurance; The company pays a general amount of commercial pension plan; Up to 20 weeks of paid vacation and Amazon's career choice plan, which allows for prepaid college tuition.
However, these conditions did not prevent Amazon from escalating labor conflicts. In 2022, the first Amazon labor union was established in an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, New York, which became a landmark event in Amazon's labor conflict.
The Black Friday strike may exacerbate friction between Amazon's labor and management sides. As of now, it is unclear how many Amazon employees will participate in this strike.