Amazon workers at a fulfilment centre in Birmingham are set to strike for the first time in January over pay and working conditions.
Members of the GMB union have chosen to strike on January 25, one year after the first-ever UK strike against Amazon, which took place at a Coventry warehouse.
The GMB says “up to 100” workers are set to participate in the walkout at the Birmingham depot, with hopes that the strike will boost the profile of the ongoing dispute and reach more supporters.
However, an Amazon spokesperson said that only “19 GMB Union members out of our 2,000 Sutton Coldfield fulfilment centre colleagues have voted in favour of industrial action.”
They emphasised that the walkout will cause “zero disruption for our customers.”
So far there has been 28 days of industrial action by Amazon Coventry staff since January 2023, but a GMB spokesperson told Retail Week last month that workers at Coventry are being “re-balloted”.
According to GMB, union membership in Coventry has increased to more than 1,200 staff.
GMB regional organiser Rachel Fagan said: “The industrial chaos Amazon faces isn’t going to disappear; it’s growing every day. One year on from the first strike day, the message from GMB members at Amazon is the same: recognise our union and end poverty pay.”
Amazon said: “We regularly review our pay to ensure we offer competitive wages and benefits. By April 2024, our minimum starting pay will have increased to £12.30 and £13 per hour depending on location – that’s a 20% increase over two years and 50% since 2018.
“We also work hard to provide great benefits, a positive work environment and excellent career opportunities.
“These are just some of the reasons people want to come and work at Amazon, whether it’s their first job, a seasonal role or an opportunity for them to advance their career.”
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