For the fifth year, UNI Global Union and Progressive International will spearhead strikes and protests during the Black Friday-Cyber Monday (BFCM) period under the banner of “Make Amazon Pay.” The goal is to hold Amazon accountable for alleged labor abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy. Unions and allied groups are planning demonstrations in more than 20 countries, including major U.S. cities, Germany, the UK, Japan and Brazil.
This year’s Make Amazon Pay protests bring together more than 80 unions, civil society organizations, environmentalists and tax watchdogs, including Greenpeace, Tax Justice Network and Amazon Workers International. In previous years, the Make Amazon Pay effort saw thousands of workers strike at facilities throughout Germany, France, Spain, the UK and Italy; garment workers in Bangladesh take to the streets; and climate activists blockade Amazon warehouses in three European countries.
The protests are designed to highlight Amazon’s alleged misdeeds, including its aggressive union-busting in New York and Alabama, where Amazon has been forced to allow a third unionization vote at a distribution center. Additionally, Amazon’s refusal to participate in European Parliament public hearings led the legislative body to ban Amazon lobbyists.
“Amazon’s relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy,” said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union in a statement. “[Jeff] Bezos’s company has spent untold millions to stop workers from organizing, but the strikes and protests happening around the world show that workers’ desire for justice – for union representation – can’t be stopped. We stand united in demanding that Amazon treat its workers fairly, respect fundamental rights and stop undermining the systems meant to protect us all. ‘Make Amazon Pay Day’ is becoming a global act of resistance against Amazon’s abuse of power.”
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