German Amazon employees go on strike

In Germany, approximately 2,500 employees of the e-commerce company Amazon resigned on Tuesday. The service union Verdi also announces that several strikes will follow before the end of the year.

The trade union action had already started in several places on Monday. On Tuesday, seven sites, spread over different German regions, will be affected. There will also be small events at Amazon locations on Tuesday.

Verdi demands that Amazon “immediately” work on a 3 percent wage increase this year for its employees. Another 1.7% is to be added next year. These wage increases have been agreed in a sectoral collective agreement for the retail sector, but the American company refuses to accept them. Amazon claims to be part of the logistics industry, where different standards apply.

Amazon stated on Monday that it did not expect serious consequences for its customers. But according to the Union, several deliveries will indeed be delayed. Verdi also stresses that there will certainly be further strikes” until the end of the year”. Due to the end of the Year celebrations, this is traditionally a very busy period.