Amazon employees strike on Prime Day

At the beginning of the Prime Day discount campaign, employees of the online retailer Amazon went on strike. In Bad Hersfeld in Hesse, for example, 200 to 300 workers took part in the strike that morning, according to the Verdi union; During the day and over different shifts, "I expect 550," said Verdi strike leader Mechthild Middeke. The union has called for a strike until Wednesday at seven Amazon locations. Amazon made billions in sales on the days of the campaign, "The employees in the shipping centers have to cope with the rush of customers and don't get a cent for the additionally increased workload," criticized Orhan Akman from Verdi on Sunday. Amazon said the group does not expect any impact on customers. Amazon already offers "excellent pay, excellent additional services and excellent career opportunities - all in a safe, modern work environment". A spokesman pointed out that starting wages for all employees in the German logistics network would rise to the equivalent of at least twelve euros gross per hour from July. In addition, Amazon pays a special allowance for overtime, life and disability insurance and contributions to company pension schemes. The group called for "booking a virtual live tour of our logistics centers". It will also take place on Prime Day. Verdi called the announced increase in starting salaries to twelve euros per hour on Sunday "cynical and far from recognition and respect". Amazon behaves "like a landlord" who, when in a good mood, "has a few benefits for his day laborers". The trade union is calling on the federal government to facilitate the path to generally binding collective bargaining provisions so that all companies in the respective industry are bound by them. Verdi has been fighting for years to ensure that Amazon employees get a collective agreement and are paid according to the tariff for retail and mail order. Amazon always argues that the company is "a fair and responsible employer" even without a collective agreement and pays at the upper end of what is usual for comparable activities.