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Amazon warehouse in Bad Hersfeld: collective agreement required
Photo:
Andreas Rentz / Getty Images
At the beginning of this week, Amazon is advertising lots of special offers for "Prime Day".
But the online retailer's operations on June 21 and 22 could be affected by a labor dispute in Germany.
The Ver.di union has called on workers in seven German dispatch centers to stop work by Wednesday.
According to the union, the Werne, Leipzig, Rheinberg, Bad Hersfeld (two centers), Koblenz and Graben locations are to be affected.
»Amazon spends millions on advertising and makes billions in sales on the days of the campaign.
The employees in the dispatch centers have to cope with the influx of customers and do not get a cent for the increased workload, ”said Orhan Akman, who is responsible for the retail and mail order business at Ver.di.
"The profits flow solely into the pockets of the group and its shareholders, while employees continue to be denied collective wages and good and healthy working conditions."
Amazon speaks of "excellent payment"
In a statement, Amazon pointed out that the company already offers "excellent pay" as well as additional benefits and career opportunities - "and all of this in a safe, modern work environment." It had only recently announced that it would introduce a starting hourly wage of twelve euros gross in its German shipping centers from July. In autumn 2022, this is expected to rise to 12.50 euros.
Ver.di said that the increase in starting salaries was "cynical and far from recognition and respect for employees by the group".
The union has been criticizing Amazon for years for rejecting collective agreements.
She calls for the recognition of the collective agreements for the retail and mail order business as well as negotiations on a collective agreement on “good and healthy work”.
Collective bargaining is currently underway in the retail and mail order business.
apr / dpa
