More than 1,000 workers, who are demanding a pay rise, have gone on strike outside a major warehouse of American online retailer Amazon in the United Kingdom.
Around 1,150 workers at Amazon’s Coventry distribution warehouse joined the picket line in a row over pay and working conditions, reported The Independent.
Unions told the newspaper that workers are tired of only “just about making ends meet” and “walking miles every day” in their roles.
The Coventry centre is considered as one of the busiest of Amazon’s UK operations.
According to reports, strikes are also expected to take place in the US and other European nations.
Workers from the US, Germany and Italy were also expected to join the action which is part of what unions call a “global movement” for better pay and working conditions, the British news outlet reported.
“Some of my colleagues are doing multiple jobs barely seeing their partners or kids,” one worker said. “Amazon is one of the richest companies in the world, its founder is busy building rockets yet the people who made him that fortune are on the breadline, going to food banks, pawning items to make ends meet,” the person added.
She said that working at the company was both “physically and mentally draining” as heavy lifting for ten hours a night took its toll and injuries occurred.
When it comes to mental health, she said the effect was similar: “You constantly have managers coming up to you telling you that your rate is low, or you’re put on a line of shame with all the other under-performers, it does take a toll on people’s mental health.
“Having to work many more hours means not having the time or chance to do things that are good for them.”
The GMB union, which represents workers, told The Independent that staff were disappointed that Amazon bosses had refused to discuss pay and working conditions despite months of action.
“It’s a really simple ask,” a spokesperson told The Independent. “We want the company to sit down and start talking to us. It’s a reasonable request and Amazon bosses have refused to talk.
Amazon, however, said the strike will not impact customers.
The company told The Independent: “There will be no disruption to customers. Our Coventry site does not directly serve customer orders.”