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More than 1,000 Amazon workers vow ‘spring offensive’ of strikes in fight for £15 pay

AMAZON workers in Coventry have voted to extend their strike action, with the GMB union warning today that the online retail giant faces a “spring offensive” of walkouts by staff demanding £15 an hour.

The annoucement of further strikes came as industrial action spread to a third Amazon warehouse this week. Workers at the company’s flagship £500 million new site in Minworth, Birmingham, staged a stoppage on Thursday.

More than 1,000 are expected to join the forthcoming action, with strike dates set to be announced in the coming weeks.

GMB senior organiser Amanda Gearing said: “One year on from the first strike action at Amazon’s Coventry HQ, this news goes to show Amazon face yet more industrial chaos.

“Our members have voted to back a spring offensive in their fight for £15 and union rights.

“Amazon is running out of options: face yet more chaos or get serious about listening to their workers’ demands.”

Workers have already taken nearly 30 days of industrial action in their fight for better pay and union rights.

Thursday’s action took place just weeks after the opening of the Minworth facility and marked the anniversary of the first-ever official strike action at Amazon warehouse in Britain.

More than 1,000 Amazon workers across the world withdrew their labour during the firm’s Black Friday promotion in November.

An Amazon spokesman has previously said: “We regularly review our pay to ensure we offer competitive wages and benefits.

“By April, our minimum starting pay will have increased to £12.30 and £13 per hour, depending on location. That’s a 20 per cent increase over two years and 50 per cent since 2018.

“We also work hard to provide great benefits, a positive work environment and excellent career opportunities.”

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