Global Protests Planned by Amazon Workers During Black Friday

Amazon workers in more than 20 countries plan to protest during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These demonstrations aim to hold Amazon accountable for labor abuses and environmental harm. The Switzerland-based labor federation UNI Global Union and the activist group Progressive International organized the protests.

• Workers in over 20 countries plan Black Friday and Cyber Monday protests against Amazon, demanding fair treatment and accountability for labor and environmental practices.
• UNI Global Union and Progressive International spearhead these protests, emphasizing Amazon’s need to uphold workers’ rights and protective systems.
• Protests range from strikes in German towns to rallies in New Delhi, with the global “Make Amazon Pay” campaign marking its fifth year of action.
• Despite some successes like the Staten Island unionization, US-based labor activism against Amazon faces mixed outcomes, with participation in protests yet uncertain.

Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, stated the protests demand fair treatment for workers. She emphasized the need for Amazon to respect fundamental rights and stop undermining protective systems. Amazon spokeswoman Eileen Hards responded, stating the company values competitive pay, benefits, and a safe work experience.

Protests are planned in the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Turkey, and more. In Germany, thousands of Amazon workers intend to strike in several towns. In New Delhi, hundreds of workers plan to rally for fair treatment. This global day of resistance follows increasing boldness among labor leaders to challenge large corporations amid income inequality.

In the US, labor activists have targeted Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos. While an Amazon facility in Staten Island, New York, voted to form a union in 2022, other union efforts in Alabama and New York failed. The extent of participation in the US protests remains uncertain.

Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, co-general coordinator of Progressive International, noted that these coordinated efforts aim to force Amazon to change. UNI Global Union and Progressive International said this marks the fifth year of “Make Amazon Pay” activities. Past strikes occurred in Germany, France, Spain, the UK, and Italy.