Amazon workers at a U.K. facility are voting this week on whether to join a union, marking the first time the tech giant has faced a union vote in Europe.
The vote is among workers at a distribution center in Coventry who are deciding whether to join the GMB union.
It is the first union vote at an Amazon facility in Europe, following a series of votes held at US warehouses in recent years.
Voting runs until Saturday and the result is expected on Monday, according to GMB.
While the vote takes place, Amazon warehouse workers in the North and South of England, Wales and Scotland will protest.
“Workers united over the poverty wages and unsafe conditions Amazon imposed on them. They want the same fair pay and safe conditions that any of us would demand,” GMB national secretary Andy Prendergast said in a statement.
“Amazon had every chance to do the right thing; now workers are taking matters into their own hands to improve the work,” she added.
In April, GMB filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that the company pressured employees to leave the union, forced workers to attend anti-union seminars, displayed anti-union messages in Amazon workplaces, and bullied and intimidated union representatives among Amazon employees.
“Our employees have the option of joining a union or not. They always have,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson also praised Amazon’s minimum starting wage of £12.30 and £13 per hour depending on location, and Amazon’s work to “prioritize the safety and well-being of our employees”.
The spokesperson said the company uses a benchmark against the latest national data published by the Health and Safety Executive and has “on average more than 50% fewer injuries than other transport and storage companies”.
“These are just some of the reasons why people want to come work at Amazon, whether it’s their first job, a seasonal role or an opportunity to advance their careers,” they added.
The first union vote for an Amazon facility in Europe follows a vote in favor of forming an Amazon Labor Union at a facility in Staten Island, NY, in 2022. Members represented by the union voted to align with the Teamsters last month.
As the union aligns with the Teamsters, the union is still seeking a contract with the e-commerce giant, The Associated Press reported.
The Amazon Labor Union’s victory in Staten Island is the only union election victory for an Amazon facility in the US, despite other election attempts.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
