Black Friday to Cyber Monday: Workers Worldwide Strike to ‘Make Amazon Pay’
By Jake Beardslee ·
November 29, 2024
In a coordinated effort spanning six continents, Amazon workers launched a global strike on Friday, challenging the company's labor practices and corporate policies. The "Make Amazon Pay" movement, now in its fifth year, brings together over 30 unions, environmental organizations, and civil society groups to address concerns about worker treatment, fair compensation, and corporate accountability. Greenpeace Polska / Flickr
Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, criticized Amazon's approach, stating, "Amazon's relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy." uniglobalunion.org
The demonstrations took place in multiple countries, including India, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Bangladesh, and the United States, with workers demanding fair pay, environmental sustainability, and the right to unionize. uniglobalunion.org
Amazon defended its practices, with spokesperson Eileen Hards asserting, "The fact is at Amazon we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities—all from day one." The company points to recent investments, including a $2.2 billion increase in pay for fulfillment and transportation employees, with base wages rising to over $22 per hour. Amazon.com, Inc. / Wikimedia
Recent congressional and regulatory efforts have focused on examining Amazon's workplace conditions and labor policies. Senator Bernie Sanders, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has been actively investigating the company's employment practices. GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
An investigative report released earlier this year examined workplace safety during Amazon's Prime Day event. The report found that a significant percentage of on-site workers experienced injuries during the 2019 event. Sanders described this as an example of the "type of corporate greed" Americans are "sick and tired of." GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has also been involved in ongoing discussions with Amazon. The federal agency has raised concerns about certain company policies, suggesting they may create challenges for workers attempting to organize. National Labor Relations Board / Wikimedia
