As the holiday shopping season heats up, Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the United States, are planning a major strike from Black Friday, November 29 through Cyber Monday, December 2, 2024.
The “Make Amazon Pay” campaign is a coordinated action that looks to shine a light on what workers and organizers call unfair labor practices, environmental irresponsibility, and corporate domination. With global participation, the strike will disrupt one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, sending a loud and clear message to the e-commerce giant.
The strike is not just confined to salary and working condition aspects but is a multivaried movement-elevating better pay for the workforce, safer workplaces and union rights, and for Amazon itself to acknowledge its environmental footprint out of the company’s profits and paying proportionate taxes. Organised by UNI Global Union and Progressive International, respectively, the movement undergirds growing frustrations for workers left behind in the company’s relentless pursuit of profit.
Meanwhile, Amazon has reported record profits. But what about the employees who actually make it run?” said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. “This is about fair monetarization, dignity, and accountability from Amazon.”.
Key demands include:
Fair Wages: Workers in countries like India are demanding that their monthly wages increase from $120 to $295 to keep pace with inflation and reflect Amazon’s massive earnings.
Safer Working Conditions: Workers refer to their workplaces as ‘high-pressure’ with long hours put in and few breaks accorded to them. They argue for improved safety and relief from unfair workloads.
Union Rights: One of the central issues of the strike is the right to unionize without retaliation, something that has been a focal point in many countries.
Environmental Responsibility: Labor and environmental groups urge Amazon to end “greenwashing” and take meaningful actions toward sustainability, including actual emissions reduction and air pollution from its warehouses and delivery operations.
This year, demonstrations will take place in major cities across countries like the U.S., Germany, the U.K., Brazil, Japan, and India. Germany is a focal point of Amazon’s European operation, with large protests scheduled in Koblenz and Leipzig. The strikes come in the wake of similar events that have targeted high-profile properties belonging to Amazon, including one outside Jeff Bezos’ penthouse in New York City.
What makes this year different, however, is the level of coordination. “This isn’t just a local issue. Amazon’s practices have a global impact, and we’re standing together as a global workforce to demand change,” said a German warehouse worker involved in the campaign.
But Amazon didn’t waste any time on defense, either. Spokeswoman Eileen Hards rejected those claims, trumpeting Amazon’s competitive wages and benefits. “Amazon has created more than 1.5 million jobs worldwide and provides a safe, engaging workplace,” said Hards. “These strikes are being organized by groups with their own interests, touting a false narrative about our work environment.
Despite these reassurances, critics argue that Amazon’s efforts often fall short in truly addressing the real issues. Workers in regions, such as Southern California’s Inland Empire, have cited air pollution and health concerns coming from nearby warehouses that disproportionately affect local communities.
This strike is not just labor-the strike calls for Amazon to account for its environmental justice, too. Workers are sounding the alarm on Amazon’s carbon footprint and how its operations hurt communities and the planet. While the company has promised to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, critics label those promises as little more than “greenwashing.”.
One issue that stands out is the pollution coming from Amazon’s expansive logistics network, disproportionately hitting vulnerable communities. “It’s not just about us as workers; it’s about the communities we live in,” a U.K. protester said. “Amazon needs to take responsibility for the damage it’s causing.”
For consumers, the strike could mean delays in deliveries during the busiest shopping weekend of the year. Experts suggest this might lead shoppers to reconsider their dependence on Amazon for holiday purchases. Some buyers have already expressed support for the workers’ cause, vowing to shift their spending to local businesses or smaller retailers.
That was not an accident of timing, said an organizer. “Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the most profitable days for Amazon. If we don’t do this now, when would we do it?
The “Make Amazon Pay” campaign forms part of a broader movement that questions the place of mega-corporations within society. Deep-pocketed and with huge reach, Amazon is often held up as the poster child of corporate power unleashed.
For the workers organizing this strike, however, it is a deeply personal fight. We are not some numbers on an Excel sheet,” said one warehouse worker in India. “We have families, we have dreams and we have rights. And we aren’t going to stop until Amazon hears us.
This holiday season, the spotlight won’t just be on deals and discounts; it will also be on the workers fighting for fair treatment and a healthier planet. As the world watches, the outcome of this strike could set a precedent for labor rights and corporate accountability across industries.
