Amazon workers in Germany have gone on strike in six fulfillment centers. The union representing them said Amazon operates eight major shipping locations in Germany, and said workers planned to continue striking through September 26.
Germany’s leading trade union Verdi told DW.com that employees in Amazon’s logistics centers in Bad Hersfeld, Leipzig, Rheinberg, Werne, Graben and Pforzheim went on strike Monday morning.
“The current labor dispute has been going on for more than two years,” the news site reported, “Verdi demands a labor agreement for Amazon’s 10,000 employees in Germany, similar to those for workers in the country’s retail sector. Until today Amazon has refused to even talk about a legally binding agreement with Verdi, the union claimed.”
Workers first went on strike in April 2013, the union said.
“An Amazon spokesperson said that the strikes would not affect the company’s delivery schedule” according to DW.com.
TelecomPaper.com said despite a recent announcement of a 2.5 percent wage increase, the Ver.di trade union said there was still a significant gap compared with the collective bargaining agreements in the retail and mail order business. “In addition to an improvement in income, the union is demanding agreements on working hours, holiday, extra charges and special payments.”