“German Amazon workers strike on ‘Black Friday’”, 29 November 2019

The strike, called by the powerful German Verdi union, is set to last until Tuesday morning. Hundreds of Amazon workers in Germany walked off the job as the online retailer kicked off its "Black Friday"…escalating a…battle for better pay and working conditions”.  The strike…is set to also cover “Cyber Monday”, another…crucial sales period for Amazon.

Verdi spokeswoman [said]... "several hundred" employees had started the stoppage at Amazon distribution centres... "Their work cannot be had at rock-bottom prices,"… [Verdi] demanding a collective labour agreement to ensure "a living wage and good, healthy jobs". The union accused Amazon of "withholding basic rights”, …making them work "under extreme pressure". 

Amazon played down the strike's impact, saying "packages will arrive on time". The company has long resisted the union's call for labour negotiations, defending its work environment and insisting that it is "one of the best employers in the logistics industry…We pay at the upper end of what is usual for comparable work, we offer additional benefits and review wages annually”. Amazon has been hit by repeated strikes in Germany and other countries in recent years...