Swindon Amazon workers down tools in strike over pay rises and treatment

Workers first downed tools on Monday night and started a sit-in protest in the Woodside Road site's canteen which continued throughout Tuesday and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Staff claim that the promises made when they joined the relatively new depot have not been met and that they are being 'treated like robots'.

There are also objections to Amazon's proposed pay rise of 0.35p per hour which staff claim isn't enough to account for the increased demand and workload and to cope with the cost of living crisis. 

Amazon workers in the canteen having a sit-in and a cardboard sign encouraging others

"Today we were threatened with disciplinary action and called animals," said one member of staff taking part in the strike.

"This is indicative of how we're treated, not just in the Swindon branch, but nationally. There's no respect and they work us like robots.

"For example, our breaks start the moment we walk away from our packing area and the canteen is a 20-30 minute walk away so often we only get 20 minutes of actual break time that isn't spent travelling to and from where the canteen is."

A handwritten sign has been placed on a chair in the canteen which says: "We are sitting here for our rights, please keep sitting here as a unit. If these people will not listen today then we will sit together tomorrow. All of us can get victory in this work only by being together. Please don't go"

Swindon isn't the only location to be striking as well, with Tilbury, Dartford, Belvedere, Coventry and Rugeley also seeing walkouts.

GMB regional organiser looking after Amazon, David McMullen, who is on the ground in Swindon, said he had sympathy for the workers who had chosen to embark on the unsanctioned 'wildcat strike' and explained that membership applications for GMB had skyrocketed.

"The pay rise was the straw that broke the camel's back really, there are a whole host of issues that mostly come down to workers not being treated like human beings.

"We have nothing against companies making money, but it should never be at the expense of the workers."

The Amazon depot in Swindon (Image: Newsquest)

As a result, GMB has submitted a formal pay claim to the giant company, asking for a real terms rise of £2 per hour

In the letters submitted on behalf of members across the country, GMB is asking for talks on pay – facilitated by the government arbitration service ACAS

Steve Garelick, GMB regional organiser, said: “Amazon is one of the most profitable companies on the planet. With household costs spiralling, the least they can do is offer decent pay.

“Amazon continues to reject working with trade unions to deliver better working conditions and fair pay. Their repeated use of short-term contracts is designed to undermine workers’ rights.

“The image the company likes to project, and the reality for their workers could not be more different. They need to drastically improve pay and working conditions.”

An Amazon Spokesperson said: "Starting pay for Amazon employees will be increasing to a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45p/h, depending on location. This is for all full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary roles in the UK.

"In addition to this competitive pay, employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package that includes private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, subsidised meals and an employee discount among others, which combined are worth thousands annually, as well as a company pension plan.”

In July it was reported that Amazon's core UK division was handed a tax credit of just over £1million last year despite profits of £204million, a rise of almost 60 per cent.