Darren Westwood speaks to Sky News about corralling colleagues to strike over low pay and conditions that see staff stand on their feet all day and get warnings if they fail to sort through a set number of items per hour
"The money is there. I know people say that it's the politics of envy but we're not asking for his [Jeff Bezos'] yacht or his rocket. We just won't be able to pay our way. And that's all we're asking."
It's not just about money, however. Amazon has long been criticised for employing tough productivity targets that require workers to sort through a set number of items per hour. The loss of up to 300 of its 1,400 workforce in Coventry is unlikely to cause Amazon any major operational problems but management will be keeping a close eye on developments. Across the globe, its workforce has started agitating. In the US, workers at a New York warehouse recently voted to start the company's first-ever labour union.
"Employees are also offered comprehensive benefits that are worth thousands more - including private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidised meals and an employee discount, to name a few." A similar story is playing out across the economy, especially in the public sector, where industrial relations are fracturing under the strain of rampant inflation. Nurses, ambulance drivers, railway workers, teachers and postal workers have all voted to down their tools and march out.Like some of Amazon's employees, many of them were repeatedly reminded of their value during the pandemic, when they went out to work when others stayed at home.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wednesday's national newspaper front pages📰 What will be on tomorrow's front pages? AnnaJonesSky is joined by johnestevens and kateferguson4 on the Press Preview for a first look at the stories making headlines in Wednesday's national newspapers 🗞️ 📺 Sky 501 and YouTube
Read more »
Amazon strike: First formal walkout on British soil begins todayDarren Westwood speaks to Sky News about corralling colleagues to strike over low pay and conditions that see staff stand on their feet all day and get warnings if they fail to sort through a set number of items per hour.
Read more »
Darren Moore: Well-known drag queen found dead in Cardiff alley - police are investigatingDarren Moore was last seen at about 5am on Sunday wearing full face make-up, a luminous green dress, blonde wig, heels and carrying a clutch bag. Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have seen him in Cardiff city centre during the early hours of Sunday to get in touch.
Read more »
Yorkshire Dales: Dark sky sites set for added protection measuresNew light pollution rules in North Yorkshire will force lighting to point downwards, planners say.
Read more »
How to See NASA's Rocket Launch in Tonight's SkyThis evening the NASA Wallops Launch facility in Virginia will attempt the launch of the Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle. The launch will be visible up and down the East Coast. In Boston and much of New England the rocket will be visible about 120 seconds after launch in the southern sky. The launch window is between 6 and 8…
Read more »
Topshop pensioners fashion £1bn funding deal with AvivaAviva, the FTSE 100 insurer, is on the brink of an agreement that will guarantee retirement payouts to thousands of former Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins employees, Sky News learns.
Read more »