Trade union Verdi has called on employees at the Amazon distribution centre in Bad Hersfeld to lay off work. The union has been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions for years.
The strike at Amazon's largest distribution centre in Germany will last from Wednesday until next Saturday, according to Verdi. 4,000 people work at the logistics centre. Verdi thinks hundreds of employees will lay off work. Amazon seems unimpressed by the announced action. The etail giant has hired extra staff because of the holidays, who can fill any gaps.
Previously, activists seized the crowds on Black Friday to demand better working conditions. In late November, there was a strike at six of Germany's 11 distribution centres.
The e-commerce giant has been under fire for years over poor working conditions. Amazon allegedly pays staff too little and makes them work a lot of overtime. In 2013, it was revealed that Amazon worked with the controversial security company HESS, which also monitored employees outside working hours. Amazon subsequently decided to end its collaboration with HESS.
'Deplorable conditions at dc Amazon'
Yet Amazon seems to care little else about the years of criticism. Journalist Alan Selby went undercover for five weeks at an Amazon UK distribution centre this year and spoke of "appalling working conditions". Employees would have to work 55-hour work weeks around the holidays, at wages of £8.20 an hour (€9.16), which is below the minimum wage. The 'impossible targets' would lead to some employees falling asleep standing up and in some cases being treated by ambulance staff.
Amazon stated in a response that it did not recognise itself in Selby's accusations. "We are proud of the fact that we have created thousands of jobs in recent years. We base the targets on previous results from our workforce."
