Black Friday Strikes Sweep Amazon Across Europe: Protests Impacting Sales

Amazon workers staged a Black Friday strike across Europe to protest the company’s working practices, led by the campaign “Make Amazon Pay” coordinated by the UNI Global Union. Strikes and protests took place in over 30 countries from Black Friday to Monday. Germany, a major market for Amazon, saw 250 workers on strike at a Leipzig warehouse and 500 at a Rheinberg warehouse. The German union Verdi called for a 24-hour strike across five fulfillment centers, demanding a collective wage agreement. In the UK, more than 200 workers at the Coventry warehouse went on strike, demanding a pay rise to £15 per hour.

In Italy, the trade union CGIL organized a strike at the Castel San Giovanni warehouse, while in Spain, the union CCOO called for a one-hour strike on each Cyber Monday shift. The protests were not limited to warehouses; Italian anti-globalization organization Attac encouraged activists to block Amazon lockers using posters and ticker tape. Despite these protests, Amazon’s app remains popular in Europe, with 146 million active users in October.

Amazon’s impact on the European market has been significant, leading to an increased global presence on Black Friday. The company advertised ten days of holiday discounts this year. In response to the strike, an Amazon spokesperson stated that employees are paid fair wages with additional benefits, with starting salaries exceeding €14 per hour in Germany and £11.80 to £13 per hour in the UK. While these events unfolded, Amazon ensured that deliveries for Black Friday orders would remain timely and reliable, and that the strikes would not cause any disruption. This demonstration from Amazon workers illuminates the growing concern around labor practices, particularly during major international shopping events.

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