[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Employees at Amazon logistics centers in Germany have gone on strike demanding safety guarantees and improved working conditions.
On the 29th (local time), according to CNBC, the German labor union 'Verdi' representing six Amazon logistics centers issued a statement the previous day saying, "Amazon is endangering the lives of logistics center workers," and initiated the strike.
Earlier, some Amazon logistics centers in Germany reported confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the strike was triggered by Amazon headquarters taking no action in response.
Amazon has faced criticism for its inadequate COVID-19 response compared to companies like Alibaba. Previously, COVID-19 cases were confirmed at more than 50 Amazon logistics centers worldwide, and at least eight logistics center employees are known to have died due to COVID-19.
Orhan Akman, Verdi's retail sector representative, stated, "We have received information that at some centers, at least 30 to 40 employees tested positive for COVID-19," adding, "However, Amazon headquarters shows no willingness to resolve this."
He also warned that strikes would continue at warehouses located in Leipzig, Bad Hersfeld, Rheinberg, Bern, and Koblenz in Germany.
In response, Amazon issued a statement saying, "As of June, Amazon has invested $4 billion globally to protect workers and customers from COVID-19," and "In Germany alone, we have supplied 21 million pairs of gloves, 19 million face masks, and 39 million boxes of disinfectant wipes."
Meanwhile, the German Amazon union Verdi has been in conflict with management over wages and working conditions, conducting strikes since 2013.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
