Author
Counterfire
Date
11 July 2023
Type
News
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Amazon strikers are holding a mass rally in Coventry on 5 August – here’s why you should be there

A year ago, the BHX4 warehouse in Coventry became the first Amazon site in the UK to go on strike. The strike followed the company imposing a 50p per hour pay rise during a cost of living crisis while increasing workloads and with its owner and executive chairman Jeff Bezos adding $70bn to his net worth during the pandemic.

Represented by GMB union, the workers have gone from 30 members to 900 and taken 20 days of strike action over the last year. Amazon has yet to communicate with the strikers and has instead chosen to try and quash them. Earlier this year, the union had to postpone its bid for union recognition after Amazon hired an extra 1,300 people at the warehouse to dilute the union density.

But the strikers are continuing to fight, continuing to recruit new members and they’re inviting everyone who supports them to join them at a mass rally at the warehouse on the anniversary of their strike on 5 August at 5:30pm.

In an invitation letter to the rally, the strikers said Amazon’s “union-busting and dirty tricks have now been shown, and its utter contempt for its workers and the laws of this country need to be highlighted”, and “what better way to show Amazon and all employers that we are solid, united and will not take being ignored as an answer?”

The rally is being organised with the Rank and File Combine which organised the How We Fight, How We Win Conference in June. Coaches are being put on from around the country, details can be found on the Transport Page. If there isn’t one from your area and you’d like to request one or help organise one then please fill out this form.

If you’re in a trade union branch or trades council, please submit this motion asap to build support for the rally. If you would like to receive leaflets to distribute or can help out at a leafleting session in your area, please email [email protected].

Let’s make 5 August a day Jeff Bezos, Rishi Sunak and all exploitative employers will never forget!

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