Amazon encountered disruptions as workers staged strikes and protests at multiple locations across Europe on Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The global campaign “Make Amazon Pay,” coordinated by UNI Global Union, orchestrated strikes and protests in over 30 countries from Black Friday through to Monday, criticizing Amazon’s working practices.
Black Friday, originally known for in-store crowds in the U.S., has evolved into a global online event, with many retailers, including Amazon, offering significant discounts. Amazon’s 10-day holiday discount period from Nov. 17 to Nov. 27 fueled the surge in online shopping.
In Germany, Amazon’s second-largest market, workers at five fulfillment centers initiated a 24-hour strike to demand a collective wage agreement. The strike locations included Bad Hersfeld, Dortmund, Koblenz, Leipzig, and Rheinberg. Amazon Germany maintained that workers receive fair wages, starting at over 14 euros ($15.27) per hour, with additional benefits, ensuring reliable and timely deliveries of Black Friday orders.
Meanwhile, over 200 workers at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse in England participated in a strike over pay disputes. They called for higher pay and improved working conditions, chanting demands for a pay rise to £15 ($18.69) per hour. Amazon UK stated that the minimum starting pay ranges from £11.80 to £13 per hour, depending on the location, and would increase to £12.30 to £13 per hour from April 2024, assuring no disruption to services.
In Italy, trade union CGIL called for a Black Friday strike at the Castel San Giovanni warehouse, while the Spanish union CCOO called for a one-hour strike on each shift on “Cyber Monday.” Activists in France, led by anti-globalization organization Attac, targeted Amazon’s parcel lockers with posters and ticker tape, potentially causing disruptions in deliveries.
Attac referred to Black Friday as a “celebration of overproduction and overconsumption,” expecting a broader protest than the previous year, with an estimated 100 Amazon lockers in France being targeted.
Despite the challenges, Amazon has maintained popularity in Europe, outpacing rivals Shein and Temu. According to data.ai, Amazon’s app had 146 million active users in Europe in October, compared to 64 million for Shein and 51 million for Temu.
