As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, faces a significant challenge. Workers in more than 20 countries are preparing to strike and protest between Black Friday (November 29) and Cyber Monday (December 2), 202414. This coordinated action, now in its fifth year, aims to draw attention to various issues including labor practices, environmental concerns, and the company’s impact on democracy3.
The Make Amazon Pay Campaign
The protests are part of the annual “Make Amazon Pay” campaign, organized by a coalition of labor unions and progressive organizations, including UNI Global Union and Progressive International13. This year’s action is set to be the largest yet, with participation expected in major cities across the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil, and many other countries14.
The striking workers and protesters have several core demands:
- Increased Wages: Workers are calling for better pay, especially in light of rising inflation and living costs13.
- Improved Working Conditions: There are concerns about workplace safety and the overall treatment of employees14.
- Union Rights: Demonstrators are demanding that Amazon allow its workforce to unionize without interference13.
- Environmental Accountability: Protesters are challenging Amazon’s environmental practices and its impact on climate change34.
- Fair Taxation: There are calls for Amazon to pay its fair share of taxes in the countries where it operates3.
Global Scale of the Protests
The scale of the planned protests highlights the global nature of concerns about Amazon’s practices:
United States
In the U.S., workers affiliated with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union are planning to march on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ penthouse in New York City4. This action symbolizes the direct challenge to Amazon’s leadership and policies.
Germany
German workers are set to strike in multiple cities, including Graben, Dortmund Werne, Bad Hersfeld, Leipzig, Koblenz, and Rheinberg1. Germany has been a focal point of Amazon labor activism in recent years.
India
In New Delhi, workers are planning to march on Parliament, demanding higher wages and job protections. This action comes in the wake of allegations that Amazon kept employees working during a dangerous heat wave earlier in the year4.
United Kingdom
The GMB union in the UK has organized Amazon warehouse workers, bringing them out on strike for a total of 28 days over the past year3. The Coventry warehouse is set to be a significant site of protest, with strikers from Germany, Italy, and the US joining in solidarity3.
Protests and actions are also planned in Brazil, Japan, and various European countries, demonstrating the truly global nature of the campaign14.
While Amazon has historically downplayed the impact of these protests, the growing scale and coordination of the actions pose potential challenges to the company’s operations during one of its busiest periods4.
Economy experts have suggested that the strikes could lead to delays in holiday deliveries for customers1. However, significant disruptions have not occurred in previous years, and it remains to be seen whether this year’s actions will have a more substantial impact.
The holiday season, particularly the period between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is crucial for Amazon’s revenue. In 2023, Amazon represented 18% of worldwide Black Friday sales, with more than $170 billion in total holiday sales1. Any disruption to this period could have significant financial implications for the company.
Amazon has consistently defended its practices and downplayed the significance of these protests. The company maintains that it provides “great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities” to its employees4.
In response to ongoing pressure, Amazon has taken some steps to address worker concerns. In September 2024, the company raised wages for warehouse and transportation workers to an average of $22 per hour4. However, the company did not explicitly cite labor activism as a reason for these increases.
Amazon continues to face challenges related to unionization efforts. While the company has successfully resisted many unionization attempts, there have been some notable successes for labor organizers. The Amazon Labor Union’s victory in organizing a Staten Island warehouse in 2022 was a significant milestone5.
Amazon has also made efforts to address environmental concerns. The company claims to have met an ambitious climate target of “matching” the electricity consumed by its global operations with renewable energy, seven years ahead of schedule4. However, some environmental groups argue that these calculations do not include emissions from third-party merchants, who account for a significant portion of Amazon’s sales4.
The ongoing conflict between Amazon and its workers reflects larger trends in the global economy:
The protests highlight the evolving nature of labor rights and organizing in the digital economy. Traditional union tactics are being adapted to confront the challenges posed by tech giants and e-commerce leaders.
The Make Amazon Pay campaign raises questions about the responsibilities of large multinational corporations in areas such as worker treatment, environmental stewardship, and contribution to local economies through taxation.
The coordinated nature of these protests across multiple countries demonstrates the increasing ability of labor movements to organize on a global scale, mirroring the global reach of the companies they are challenging.
As Amazon workers prepare to strike and protest during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, the company faces a significant test of its policies and practices. The outcome of these actions could have far-reaching implications not just for Amazon, but for labor rights, corporate responsibility, and the future of work in the digital age.
While the immediate impact on holiday shopping remains to be seen, the persistent and growing nature of these protests suggests that the issues raised by Amazon workers and their allies are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. As the global economy continues to evolve, the tension between corporate interests and worker rights will likely remain a central issue, with Amazon at the forefront of this ongoing debate.
