Amazon workers, alongside allies, are gearing up for a global strike during one of the company’s busiest weekends, from Black Friday to Cyber Monday. Dubbed “Make Amazon Pay,” the strike is organized by UNI Global Union and Progressive International, set to commence on Friday and continue through Monday, a peak time for online sales.
The strike aims to hold Amazon accountable for what organizers claim are labor abuses, “environmental degradation and threats to democracy.” The organizing union reports that thousands of demonstrators in over 20 countries plan to participate, bringing together more than 80 trade unions and advocacy groups. Protests are expected in multiple cities, particularly in France, with thousands of workers in Germany and hundreds in New Delhi also joining the cause.
This marks the fifth consecutive year workers have mobilized to “Make Amazon Pay.” UNI Global Union General Secretary Christy Hoffman stated that Amazon’s “relentless pursuit of profit” comes at the cost of its human workers, the economy, and democracy. Hoffman further remarked that Amazon’s “company has spent untold millions to stop workers from organizing,” but the global strikes highlight that workers’ quest for justice and union representation “can’t be stopped.” Potential delays in holiday deliveries are anticipated as a result of the strike.
