BERLIN (Reuters) – German union Verdi has called on staff at seven Amazon distribution centres to strike over Sunday evening’s night shift in a bid to force the retailer to accept the union’s sectoral collective bargaining agreement.
The union – one of Germany’s biggest – said that although Amazon had repeatedly increased wages over recent years, the impact of this on staff had been moderated by extended working hours and low to non-existent compensation for public holiday shifts.
“Our active colleagues, who have been fighting for years for a collective pay agreement with Amazon, deserve our respect for the courage they keep showing in this confrontation with the employer,” said Verdi official Stefanie Nutzenberger.
The strike action is timed to coincide with Amazon’s discount “Prime Day”, when heavy sales volumes are expected. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Verdi said it had called the strike at distribution centres in Augsburg, Leipzig, Koblenz, Rheinberg, Werne and two centres in Bad Hersfeld.
Its members employed by Amazon have been on strike many times before over pay and conditions.
(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
