// Amazon UK staff to strike for the first time on 25 January
// Members of the GMB union at a warehouse in Coventry are set to walk out
Amazon UK workers are set to strike for the first time as part of a dispute over better pay.
Members of the GMB union at a warehouse in Coventry are set to walk out on 25 January.
“GMB urges Amazon UK bosses to give workers a proper pay rise and avoid industrial action altogether,” the union’s senior organiser Amanda Gearing said.
“They’ve shown they’re willing to put themselves on the line to fighting for what’s right.
“But people working for one of the most valuable companies in the world shouldn’t have to threaten strike action just to win a wage they can live on.”
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The retailer has previously said that fewer than 300 of its 1,400 workers in Coventry are affiliated to the GMB. It said that there will be no impact on customers as the centre handles stock and not orders.
Amazon said: “We appreciate the great work our teams do throughout the year and we’re proud to offer competitive pay which starts at a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45 per hour, depending on location.
“This represents a 29% increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon employees since 2018.
“Employees are also offered comprehensive benefits that are worth thousands more-including private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidised meals and an employee discount, to name a few.”
