On Thursday (July 27th), Britain's GMB trade union announced that over a thousand workers at two Amazon fulfilment centres in England are set to engage in strike action in early August as part of an ongoing pay dispute.&nbsp;

The industrial action is expected to have wider ramifications, signalling a prolonged battle for workers' rights within the e-commerce giant, Amazon.

<h2>'Fight for workers' right only just beginning'</h2>

Rachel Fagan, the Senior Organiser at GMB, stated in a press release, "This industrial action will spread further: it’s clear the fight for workers’ rights at Amazon is only just beginning."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pay-issues-strike-again-950-ground-workers-at-gatwick-airport-set-to-stage-eight-day-protest-615595">UK: Pay issues strike again, 950 ground workers at Gatwick airport set to stage eight-day protest</a>

As per a Reuters report quoting&nbsp;the union's schedule, employees at the Rugeley facility will walk out on August 3rd and 4th, while those at the Coventry centre will take action on August 4th and 5th.&nbsp;

<h2>Amazon responds to looming strikes</h2>

The strikes are aimed at drawing attention to the concerns over wages and benefits at the company. However, in response to the looming strikes, Amazon defended its stance on employee compensation.&nbsp;

An Amazon spokesperson highlighted the recent pay increases, stating, "In less than a year, our minimum pay has risen by 10 per cent and by more than 37 per cent since 2018."

The company, as per Reuters, asserted that it regularly reviews its pay structure to ensure competitive wages and attractive benefits for its workforce.&nbsp;

<h2>Previous strikes</h2>

The forthcoming strike is not an isolated incident. In June, the GMB trade union reported that Amazon workers in Coventry, who had already conducted several walkouts since January, voted in favour of extending industrial action for an additional six months.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-junior-doctors-begin-longest-single-walkout-in-nhss-history-over-pay-issues-615098">Thousands of UK doctors begin ‘longest walkout’ in NHS history over pay issues</a>

The dispute in England adds to the ongoing debates surrounding workers' rights and corporate responsibility. Also in August, nearly a thousand airport workers at Gatwick Airport in England are set to strike over pay issues.&nbsp;

Around 950 airport workers working at four firms — ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services — which provide services like baggage handling, ground handling and check-in work, to multiple airlines including the British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, Tui, Westjet and Wizz will be on strike starting tomorrow (Friday, July 28th). The first strike will last till Tuesday, August 1st. Following this, they will once again strike from Friday, August 4th to Tuesday, August 8th.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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On Thursday (July 27th), Britain's GMB trade union announced that over a thousand workers at two Amazon fulfilment centres in England are set to engage in strike action in early August as part of an ongoing pay dispute.

On Thursday (July 27th), Britain's GMB trade union announced that over a thousand workers at two Amazon fulfilment centres in England are set to engage in strike action in early August as part of an ongoing pay dispute. The industrial action is expected to have wider ramifications, signalling a prolonged battle for workers' rights within the e-commerce giant, Amazon. 'Fight for workers' right only just beginning' Rachel Fagan, the Senior Organiser at GMB, stated in a press release, "This industrial action will spread further: it’s clear the fight for workers’ rights at Amazon is only just beginning." Also read | UK: Pay issues strike again, 950 ground workers at Gatwick airport set to stage eight-day protest As per a Reuters report quoting the union's schedule, employees at the Rugeley facility will walk out on August 3rd and 4th, while those at the Coventry centre will take action on August 4th and 5th. Amazon responds to looming strikes The strikes are aimed at drawing attention to the concerns over wages and benefits at the company. However, in response to the looming strikes, Amazon defended its stance on employee compensation. An Amazon spokesperson highlighted the recent pay increases, stating, "In less than a year, our minimum pay has risen by 10 per cent and by more than 37 per cent since 2018." The company, as per Reuters, asserted that it regularly reviews its pay structure to ensure competitive wages and attractive benefits for its workforce. Previous strikes The forthcoming strike is not an isolated incident. In June, the GMB trade union reported that Amazon workers in Coventry, who had already conducted several walkouts since January, voted in favour of extending industrial action for an additional six months. Also read | Thousands of UK doctors begin ‘longest walkout’ in NHS history over pay issues The dispute in England adds to the ongoing debates surrounding workers' rights and corporate responsibility. Also in August, nearly a thousand airport workers at Gatwick Airport in England are set to strike over pay issues. Around 950 airport workers working at four firms — ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services — which provide services like baggage handling, ground handling and check-in work, to multiple airlines including the British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, Tui, Westjet and Wizz will be on strike starting tomorrow (Friday, July 28th). The first strike will last till Tuesday, August 1st. Following this, they will once again strike from Friday, August 4th to Tuesday, August 8th. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amazon workers from two facilities in UK to stage strikes over pay dispute

A few hundred workers at an Amazon warehouse in the United Kingdom (UK) walked out on Wednesday (January 25) over a pay increase worth five per cent, less than half the current inflation rate. This is the first strike that the e-commerce giant is facing in the UK. The warehouse is located in Coventry, central England and the workers there held a banner which said, "We are not robots," while another banner said, "We are worth more." Stuart Richards from the GMB union said, "The first-ever Amazon workers in the UK to go on strike" were "taking on one of the world's biggest companies to fight for a decent standard of living," news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/amazon-begins-laying-off-18000-employees-from-its-cart-of-employees-553950">Amazon begins laying off 18,000 people from its cart of employees</a>

Richards said that after six months of ignoring all requests to listen to the concerns of the workers, the GMB union urged the bosses of Amazon UK to do the right thing and give workers a proper pay raise. Speaking to news agency Reuters, Richards said "So the Amazon worker's pay demand is £15 an hour, again we've taken that from what's happening in America. We saw Amazon talking around trying to persuade workers that they didn't need a union because they were paying $15 an hour. They've now raised that to $18 meanwhile workers in the UK are lagging far behind. They're on £10.50 at this warehouse at the moment."

Richards said that the warehouse workers (in the UK) were working incredibly long shifts just to try and make ends meet, just to try and feed their families. He added that Amazon was a multi-million-pound company that made huge amounts of money. "They may not pay any tax but they certainly make a lot of money and it's on the back of these workers. We're saying a part of that profit needs to go to support these workers, so they can actually live decent lives," he said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/uk-amazon-to-restructure-warehouse-operations-closures-put-over-1000-jobs-at-risk-551220">UK: Amazon to restructure warehouse operations, closures put over 1,000 jobs at risk</a>

Another union official, Amanda Gearing, told the AFP on Wednesday that the warehouse workers were also protesting against ''other conditions'' which she described as horrendous. "They're just having to work, work, work, they're not allowed to talk to people, it's difficult to take a toilet break," she said.&nbsp;

This strike in the UK comes as tens of thousands of workers in the country including nurses, ambulance workers, teachers and railway staff have been protesting over pay and working conditions. On Monday (January 23), thousands of ambulance workers held another strike in the country with unions calling on the government to hold talks to improve pay and working conditions. Previously, the strikes (by ambulance workers) were held on January 11 and December 21, 2022. Further strikes are expected in February. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A few hundred workers at an Amazon warehouse in the United Kingdom (UK) walked out on Wednesday (January 25) over a pay increase worth five per cent, less than half the current inflation rate.

A few hundred workers at an Amazon warehouse in the United Kingdom (UK) walked out on Wednesday (January 25) over a pay increase worth five per cent, less than half the current inflation rate. This is the first strike that the e-commerce giant is facing in the UK. The warehouse is located in Coventry, central England and the workers there held a banner which said, "We are not robots," while another banner said, "We are worth more." Stuart Richards from the GMB union said, "The first-ever Amazon workers in the UK to go on strike" were "taking on one of the world's biggest companies to fight for a decent standard of living," news agency AFP reported. ALSO READ | Amazon begins laying off 18,000 people from its cart of employees Richards said that after six months of ignoring all requests to listen to the concerns of the workers, the GMB union urged the bosses of Amazon UK to do the right thing and give workers a proper pay raise. Speaking to news agency Reuters, Richards said "So the Amazon worker's pay demand is £15 an hour, again we've taken that from what's happening in America. We saw Amazon talking around trying to persuade workers that they didn't need a union because they were paying $15 an hour. They've now raised that to $18 meanwhile workers in the UK are lagging far behind. They're on £10.50 at this warehouse at the moment." Richards said that the warehouse workers (in the UK) were working incredibly long shifts just to try and make ends meet, just to try and feed their families. He added that Amazon was a multi-million-pound company that made huge amounts of money. "They may not pay any tax but they certainly make a lot of money and it's on the back of these workers. We're saying a part of that profit needs to go to support these workers, so they can actually live decent lives," he said. ALSO READ | UK: Amazon to restructure warehouse operations, closures put over 1,000 jobs at risk Another union official, Amanda Gearing, told the AFP on Wednesday that the warehouse workers were also protesting against ''other conditions'' which she described as horrendous. "They're just having to work, work, work, they're not allowed to talk to people, it's difficult to take a toilet break," she said. This strike in the UK comes as tens of thousands of workers in the country including nurses, ambulance workers, teachers and railway staff have been protesting over pay and working conditions. On Monday (January 23), thousands of ambulance workers held another strike in the country with unions calling on the government to hold talks to improve pay and working conditions. Previously, the strikes (by ambulance workers) were held on January 11 and December 21, 2022. Further strikes are expected in February. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'We're not robots': UK Amazon workers unhappy with minimal raise go on strike

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Amazon workers from two facilities in UK to stage strikes over pay dispute

'We're not robots': UK Amazon workers unhappy with minimal raise go on strike