CLEANERS working at Amazon’s distribution warehouse in Peterborough have signed a landmark union recognition agreement with their employment agency.

Staff contracted to clean the online retail giant’s premises by  employment agency Mitie will now be formally represented by Unite.

The union said the deal was brokered following a series of negotiations between Mitie and  conciliation service Acas.

The news is expected to come as a blow for Amazon, which has been facing industrial disputes and union initiatives at sites across Britain, the US and Germany.

Research released by the GMB union last year showed that 115 ambulances had been called to Amazon’s warehouse in Rugeley, West Midlands, for issues ranging from major trauma to electrocution.

Unite regional officer Adam Oakes said: “I believe this may one of the few agreements involving Amazon that trade unions have reached.

“It is a significant union bridgehead at an Amazon site which has an ambivalent view of trade unions and the benefits they bring to employees.

“We want to work constructively and in a progressive partnership with the Mitie management dealing with the Amazon warehouse in Peterborough to resolve these outstanding issues on behalf of our members.”

Peterborough Labour MP Lisa Forbes told the Star: “I’m delighted that, after many months of prevarication, Mitie has finally agreed to bow to the wishes of its workforce and formally recognise Unite to represent their interests on the cleaning contract at Amazon in Peterborough.

“This sector of the economy is notorious for low pay, insecure work and poor terms and conditions.

“Only by workers joining unions will we start to see the change that is so desperately needed.”