Amazon workers in Coventry escalate strikes to seven days

GMB union members in Coventry are talking to workers at other sites about spreading the strikes

By Sophie Squire

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Wednesday 15 February 2023

Issue 2843

Amazon workers in Coventry on strike last November (picture: BHX4_COVENTRY on twitter)

Amazon workers in Coventry are planning to strike again—this time across seven days. GMB union members at the BHX4 fulfilment centre became the first group of Amazon workers to go on official strike in Britain last month.

Workers now plan to walkout on 28 February, 2 March and from 13 to 17 March. Striker Dave told Socialist Worker, “I think the last strike brought it to the managers’ attention that we aren’t messing around.

“All we want is to be able to go to work and earn a wage, which means we can afford to pay our bills and look after our families without worrying every week.

“So hopefully an even longer walkout will get our point across. When I came into work after everyone heard about the strike dates, the mood was good.”

Workers and the GMB union met to discuss the next steps on Thursday of last week. Darren, who also works at BHX4, said workers pushed for more strike days than GMB officials initially proposed. “The GMB gave us a few key dates, but workers said they wanted more,” he told Socialist Worker. “I expected maybe we’d be out for three days, but it’s seven.

“I’m telling everyone who is already a union member to ask one more person to join. All of this can help build the strikes and get us closer to union recognition.”

Dave added that he thinks it’s vital that the strike spreads to other Amazon depots. “I’ve heard that the union is looking to ballot other sites as well,” he said. “I think to get a response from Amazon there needs to be a slowdown at both the BHX4 and the LBA4 fulfilment centre in Doncaster.

“These are the sites that supply all fulfilment centres in Britain. I know people that transferred to LBA4, so I am talking to them to hopefully get the ball rolling.”

Workers at BHX4 are showing that their militancy during wildcat walkouts last summer hasn’t gone away. Amazon workers across Britain should take inspiration from Coventry and join the strikes.