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Amazon workers are planning a worldwide strike on one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, over alleged labor abuses, “environmental degradation, and threats to democracy.”
Knewz.com has learned that the strike has been organized by the Swiss-based UNI Global Union and Progressive International, an international political organization launched in May 2020.
It has been reported that thousands of demonstrators across 20 countries will participate in the strikes from November 29 to December 2, one of the company's busiest weekends, as part of the "Make Amazon Pay days of resistance."
In Germany, thousands of workers are set to take to the streets in the cities of Graben, Dortmund Werne, Bad Hersfeld, Leipzig, Koblenz, and Rheinberg.
In India, hundreds of workers have already joined the protests and rallies in the national capital, New Delhi, in demands of fair treatment, "considering Amazon mistreatment of workers during a massive heatwave last July summer."
Furthermore, the Association for the Taxation of Financial Transactions and Citizen's Action will hold protests in multiple cities across France, while garment workers are expected to join the protests in Bangladesh.
Protests are also planned outside the Amazon U.K. headquarters at Bishopsgate, London, which, according to reports, will involve tax justice UK activists and other groups delivering a petition with more than 110,000 signatures to the company, asking the chancellor to "stop tax breaks for Amazon UK and other big corporations."
The UNI Global Union press release about the international strike stated:
"Spearheaded by UNI Global Union and Progressive International, the Make Amazon Pay days of resistance, from 29 November to 2 December, aim to hold Amazon accountable for labour abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy."
"In previous years, thousands of workers went on strike at facilities throughout Germany, France, Spain, the UK and Italy; garment workers’ took to the streets in Bangladesh; workers in the US organized walkouts; civil society allies held demonstrations projecting the Make Amazon Pay logo at Amazon offices all over the world, projecting “pandemic profiteer” onto Jeff Bezos’ mansion; and climate activists blockaded Amazon warehouses in three European countries."
"Each year, the movement has expanded, bringing together a growing coalition of unions, activists, and allies demanding that Amazon prioritize people over profits. With the participation of over 30 unions, environmental organizations, and civil society groups, Make Amazon Pay Day challenges Amazon’s power with a unified call for systemic change," the press release added.
Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, shared a statement regarding the global strike – currently in its fifth year – saying:
"Amazon’s relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy... Bezos’s company has spent untold millions to stop workers from organizing, but the strikes and protests happening around the world show that workers’ desire for justice – for union representation – can’t be stopped."
"We stand united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect fundamental rights, and stop undermining the systems meant to protect us all. ‘Make Amazon Pay Day’ is becoming a global act of resistance against Amazon’s abuse of power," Hoffman added.
It is worth noting that in 2023, Amazon represented 18% of the worldwide Black Friday sales and raked in more than $170 billion in total holiday sales.
"Amazon is everywhere, but so are we. By uniting our movements across borders, we can not only force Amazon to change its ways but lay the foundations of a world that prioritizes human dignity, not Jeff Bezos’ bank balance," said Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, the Co-General Coordinator of Progressive International.