“But since the union, suddenly the Associate Forum is everywhere to be seen, getting the views again of the associates and parroting them back to management, to show that they’re concerned.” Where have you been for the last year? Because there’s been no sign of you on the floor to come and talk to’,” said Jordan. “I said to one representative, ‘sorry, but I didn’t know you even existed. Similarly, the “Associates Forum”, a body supposed to represent associates’ views to management, has increased its visibility since the ballot. “The microphone decided to strangely die when anybody was trying to question Amazon,” said Alex. Organisers also suspect that those critical of the company were blocked from speaking. Organisers suspect Amazon planted anti-union questions at the briefing – one woman asked whether Amazon would be able to guarantee her safety in the event that a picket line formed during a strike. On 14 September, the day GMB’s ballot opened, management began the morning briefing at the centre by telling the gathered workers that Amazon doesn’t recognise or negotiate with unions, going as far as to say that any union member caught trying to “coerce” colleagues into joining the union would receive a warning, if not outright dismissal.
The payment is “dependent on no unauthorised absence between 22 November 22 and 24 December 22.” GMB believes that linking the payment directly to attendance may constitute unlawful inducement not to strike, and have instructed solicitors to take legal action. In early October, Amazon announced a £500 cost-of-living payment that will be paid in two instalments: £250 in October, while the ballot is being run, and £250 in December, when the union could potentially be taking strike action. Since the strike ballot opened, Amazon has also reinstated a bus service for associates, that takes them to the fulfilment centre, conveniently bypassing any GMB recruiters at the gates. Instead, they’d have held you responsible for calling an ambulance,” said Jordan, who like all workers featured in this article chose not to give their real name for fear of retaliation from the company. “Before the union, Amazon would never have posted that. If a ballot for strike action is achieved, associates are likely to strike in December, in the critical pre-Christmas season. The strike ballot closes on Wednesday, with confirmation of the result expected in the afternoon.
Amazon strike cracked#
Since then, Amazon has cracked down on the calling of ambulances, instead calling for a taxi, or asking another worker to drive the injured person to hospital.Ĭoventry associates – Amazon’s term for workers – told Novara Media that colleagues with broken legs, having severe panic attacks or heavily pregnant, have been sent to hospital in this way.īut since September, when associates, with the backing of the GMB, launched the first formal ballot for strike action at an Amazon warehouse in the UK, the delivery giant has started demonstrating a willingness to address specific issues employees have, all the while appearing to undermine union activity. In 2018 the GMB trade union revealed that ambulances had been called out to the online retailer’s warehouses 1000 times in five years. The appearance of seemingly obvious health and safety advice was big news to staff. This week, a poster appeared on the back of the toilet doors at BHX4, the Amazon warehouse in Coventry, informing workers to call an ambulance if a colleague falls unwell.
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