By Andy Ford, Warrington, Trades Council
Warrington Trades council activists joined with GMB organisers in leafleting the shift change at the giant Amazon distribution hub at the Omega South logistics park in west Warrington on November 23rd – “Black Friday”.
The leaflets were well received, with most workers slowing their cars and winding their windows down to take them as they arrived. Meanwhile, a queue of dozens of cars snaked out of the depot to the exit, again, most workers slowing to take a leaflet.
One pair of East European workers approached us to thank us for “bothering” which was nice; less nice was a chap claiming to be a manager who told a female activist to “get off the fucking road!”. Strange that, as she was actually on the pavement! But still, by running his tyres along the kerb he nearly managed to bash her with his wing mirror. Other than that, it was a positive reception, with some curiosity about what a union is, and what it could do.
The GMB leaflet was on the moderate side, with offers of legal help, personal injury legal support, cheap conveyancing, motor insurance and will-writing, alongside the ’GMB Charter for Amazon Workers’ – Better Pay, Safe Place of Work, Respect and Fair Treatment, and a Voice in the Workplace. I was a bit troubled by the statement that “A smart company recognises and works with GMB. A smart union wants the company to be successful. Everyone then shares in success” which buys into the myth of a mutual-interest of bosses and workers. This, when Chairman and CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, is the richest person in human history, with an estimated net worth of $112 billion, while his workers earn £10.50 an hour.
The GMB campaign is a national one, and there were actions the same day at Rugeley, Swansea, Peterborough, Milton Keynes as well as Warrington. The union has researched accident figures at Amazon and found 602 referrals to the Health and Safety Executive, ambulances called to warehouses on numerous occasions and workers sometimes working on through pain and illness. GMB has requested access to the workforce to recruit and organise – so far denied. All unions should give full support to the unionisation of Amazon workers!
November 26, 2018
