Amazon Workers in the UK Fail to Reach Union Recognition in Landmark Ballot
After a highly anticipated ballot, it has been revealed that Amazon workers at the company’s Coventry warehouse have not garnered enough support for union recognition in the UK. The results showed that out of the 3,000 workers who were asked if they wanted to be represented by the GMB union, only 49.5% of the 2,600 workers who voted were in favor of union recognition, falling short of a majority.
Despite the setback, the GMB has vowed to continue their fight for recognition. The union has also launched a legal claim against the tech giant, alleging that workers were pressured to cancel their union membership during the voting period. According to the GMB, workers had been bombarded with anti-union messages and pressured into attending anti-union seminars.
The GMB has been campaigning for better pay and rights for Amazon employees in the UK for a long time. They claim that workers have been told they will not receive a pay raise this year and will have to give up more benefits if they vote for union recognition.
However, Amazon maintains that their employees have always had the right to union membership. In a statement, the company said that they value engaging directly with their employees and have always worked hard to listen to their feedback and invest in their well-being and career development.
Regarding the anti-union sessions, Amazon clarified that attendance at employee meetings was voluntary and employees were informed of this beforehand. They also mentioned that the GMB held similar voluntary meetings with their employees on site.
Despite the outcome of the ballot, the GMB can reapply for statutory recognition in three years. In the meantime, Amazon has the option to voluntarily recognize the union. The GMB has stated that this is just the beginning of their fight for union recognition and the fire lit by workers in Coventry and across the UK is still burning.
