Staff at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse took part in a historic ballot which could see the company recognize UK unions for the first time.
The vote will allow the GMB union to formally negotiate on behalf of workers, but officials have accused the $2 trillion company of union-busting, which Amazon denies.
The warehouse processes millions of orders a day, and some workers say the conditions can be physically punishing. He feels his salary does not reflect the increase in workload since the pandemic.
One employee told Channel 4 News how he suffered a heart attack while working in a warehouse, and he will face disciplinary action when he returns to work.
Ceferina Floresca, 68, has a heart condition, and said she was working in front of a conveyor belt when she fell ill.
“You really have to pull hard, and that’s what I did,” she said. “The box was heavy, so I pulled and pulled, and then I felt a pain in my chest.”
After being taken to the hospital, he took time off from the doctor’s order. When he returned, he received a ‘concern letter’ inviting him to a meeting. Ceferina said she can no longer change shifts, take sick leave, reduce hours, or apply for promotions.
“I was surprised. I was looking at him and I thought he was joking. He said, ‘Do you have any questions?’ I said ‘Yeah, you know I had a heart attack here at work… Then why are you punishing me?’”
Amazon told us that “the well-being of our employees is always a priority, and we work directly with them to meet their needs when they return to work after medical treatment.
“When Ceferina returned to work, we met several times and after a thorough review by the occupational health team, we created a unique role for her that met her special requirements. This role was agreed together with Ceferina.
An Amazon spokesperson said: “Everyone is supported, treated with dignity and respect, regular breaks, and fast-paced work in a safe and modern work environment. We often hear from employees who have worked in logistics businesses and other operations who prefer the work environment on Amazon.
The founder and largest shareholder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, is one of the richest people in the world. But across its global empire, the company has long resisted trying to get staff to unionize. In 2021, workers at the Staten Island site became the first Amazon union to be recognized in the US.
Coventry warehouses have been the site of a number of strikes over pay in recent years, with union membership continuing to grow. But GMB officials said that as the vote approached, Amazon had raised an ‘anti-union message’.
Some workers told me that some members of management had encouraged staff not to support the union. In a secret recording of the meeting about the vote, shared with Channel 4 News, Amazon representatives can be heard warning about the consequences of union recognition.
The representative told the staff: “If GMB is recognized, this means that we cannot offer increases in pay, payments or one-off bonuses, we cannot change working hours, shift arrangements or holidays, including these changes. which you like and you request without GMB agreeing.
When asked if this is a fair characterization of the impact of union recognition, Amazon said: “We think it is very important that employees have a complete understanding of the union recognition for themselves and their workplace. That way, they can make the right decision when voting in the mail voice.
The company has also placed a QR code in its warehouse that, when scanned, automatically generates an email canceling union membership. The GMB says it has lost more than 50 members this way, and says there is a push to leave the union.
Amazon denied this, saying: “Employees told us they wanted to cancel their membership but couldn’t find a way, so we’re providing information to help.”
He said workers are free to choose whether to join a union and are proud of the working environment and conditions on site. They say their salaries have increased by 50% since 2018, and they offer competitive wages and benefits.
An Amazon spokesperson told Channel 4 News: “We work hard to offer great benefits, a positive work environment and great career opportunities. These are just some of the reasons people want to come and work at Amazon, whether it’s their first job, a seasonal role or an opportunity to progress career.
The results of the vote are expected on Monday 15 July.
Additional reporting by Sachin Croker
