Renewed industrial action at Amazon Germany

Employees have again gone on strike at four of Amazon’s German distribution centres. The German trade union Ver.di has been demanding higher wages and better labour conditions for years.

Retail or logistics?

Employees ceased work at the distribution centres in Bad Hersfeld, Koblenz, Rheinberg and Werne, even though it is currently unclear exactly how many workers are actually on strike. According to a spokesperson for Amazon, the impact of the strike is “limited”, with customers set to remain largely unaffected, if at all.

Verdi has been trying to secure a collective bargaining agreement for years, which would see the Amazon workers paid in accordance with the salary scales that apply in the retail trade. Amazon however has consistently declined Verdi’s demand: the company sets the salaries it pays in line with the logistics industry, contending it is perfectly capable of being a fair and responsible employer without a CBA. According to the Internet giant, the current salaries are already in the upper echelon of what is customary in the logistics industry.