Amazon strikes threaten Christmas deliveries
For those planning to do last minute Christmas shopping online via Amazon this year, it might already be too late. Employees are striking all the way up to Christmas Eve.
Workers have been called out on strike by union Verdi in several Amazon depots throughout the country, including in Koblenz, Rheinberg, Werne and Leipzig, reports public broadcaster ARD.
The strike is set to hit different Amazon locations at different times, with workers in Leipzig only striking on Monday, while in Koblenz employees will be downing tools all the way through to Thursday.
Verdi is trying to push Amazon - which employs a total of around 10,000 people in Germany - to come to the negotiating table over a salary dispute.
Talks over salaries in the retail and postage departments of the online shop have been deadlocked for two years, with Amazon rejecting negotiations.
“We expect Amazon to talk with us about fair salaries and just working conditions,” said Hans Kroha, Verdi’s spokesperson for Rhineland Palatinate and Saarland.
“The call for industrial action organized by the union in Amazon’s fulfillment centers has no effect on our fulfillment promise. Our customers can be assured: Christmas gifts will be on time,” Amazon told The Local in a written statement.
“Only a very small part of the employees are taking part in the strike, while the overwhelming majority of our more than 10,000 permanent employees in Germany together with thousands of seasonal employees is working regularly to keep the customer promise,” the statement continued.
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Workers have been called out on strike by union Verdi in several Amazon depots throughout the country, including in Koblenz, Rheinberg, Werne and Leipzig, reports public broadcaster ARD.
The strike is set to hit different Amazon locations at different times, with workers in Leipzig only striking on Monday, while in Koblenz employees will be downing tools all the way through to Thursday.
Verdi is trying to push Amazon - which employs a total of around 10,000 people in Germany - to come to the negotiating table over a salary dispute.
Talks over salaries in the retail and postage departments of the online shop have been deadlocked for two years, with Amazon rejecting negotiations.
“We expect Amazon to talk with us about fair salaries and just working conditions,” said Hans Kroha, Verdi’s spokesperson for Rhineland Palatinate and Saarland.
“The call for industrial action organized by the union in Amazon’s fulfillment centers has no effect on our fulfillment promise. Our customers can be assured: Christmas gifts will be on time,” Amazon told The Local in a written statement.
“Only a very small part of the employees are taking part in the strike, while the overwhelming majority of our more than 10,000 permanent employees in Germany together with thousands of seasonal employees is working regularly to keep the customer promise,” the statement continued.
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