Amazon could possibly be compelled to recognise a commerce union within the UK for the primary time.

The GMB union says virtually 700 Amazon staff in Coventry are actually members.

It mentioned that is greater than half of the employees on the web site - the same old threshold for necessary union recognition in a office.

It comes after two weeks of strike motion by staff on the fulfilment centre.

Amanda Gearing, GMB senior organiser, mentioned: "GMB members have been crystal clear for the reason that begin of their marketing campaign; they won't settle for a pay rise of pennies from one of many world's wealthiest companies.

"After weeks of campaigning and 14 strike days, they've built the power of their union on site and are now in a position to file for recognition.

"Amazon high brass has refused to barter and now their very own staff have compelled them to the desk.

"With industrial actions ballots under way in five further Amazon depots and more and more Amazon workers joining GMB, managers fast risk this becoming a summer of strike chaos for the company.

"The time has come for Amazon to take a seat down and speak pay with GMB Union."

GMB mentioned Amazon bosses have 10 days to reply and comply with voluntarily recognise the union, including if this doesn't occur, they are going to begin a statutory course of by means of the Central Arbitration Committee.

In response, Amazon UK mentioned: "We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, opportunities for career growth, all while working in a safe, modern work environment.

"At Amazon, these advantages and alternatives include the job, as does the power to speak immediately with the management of the corporate."

The company said it respects its employees' rights to choose to join or not join a union and that it regularly reviews pay rates.

Over the past seven months, minimum pay has risen by 10% and by more than 37% since 2018, it said.

GMB union members at Coventry staged their first strike in January this year, the first official walkout to hit the US tech firm's operations in the UK.

A number of other strikes followed until Amazon offered to increase the minimum starting salary of its UK workforce by 50p to between £11 and £12 per hour from April.

But this prompted an angry response from the union, which described the increase as "insulting" - its members had been calling for no less than £15 an hour.

Content Source: information.sky.com