warehouse staff Amazon in Germany began a three-day strike today, as part of pressure to secure better wages and working conditions, as the company begins a race against time to ensure that orders ahead of Christmas are delivered on time.
The ver.di union said it expected at least 2,000 workers to take part in the strike at five of Amazon in Germany, adding that the strike could spread to other centers. The strike is expected to last until the late-night shift on Wednesday.
ver.di reported that delays in deliveries could not be ruled out as a result of the workers' mobilization.
Amazon said customers can order by midnight on December 21 to receive gifts in time for Christmas, or even on December 23 and 24 if they pay the extra cost for express delivery .
"We deliver (the products ordered) reliably," an Amazon , adding that only a small minority is participating in the strike and that the company's approximately 19,000 employees are working normally.
Last year, orders at Amazon peaked on December 15, when customers bought 4.6 million items, or 53 per second.
The ver.di union has called several strikes at Amazon since May 2013, as part of a campaign to convince the company's management to increase the wages of workers in its distribution centers based on the collective bargaining agreements for employees in the retail and mail order sectors.
Amazon of products and therefore receives wages above the industry average.
Amazon had already stated that the long-standing dispute does not affect deliveries, as the vast majority of workers in Germany do not take part in the mobilization, while it can also utilize its European warehouse network, which counts 28 warehouses in 7 countries.
The US-based multinational employs around 10,000 workers in its warehouses in Germany, its second largest market after the United States, as well as 10,000 seasonal employees.
Source: newsbeast.gr
