GMB Union has lost its vote for union recognition at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse, following efforts for staff to be given the right to collectively bargain on pay and working conditions.
While 49.5% of staff members voted in favour of union recognition, 50.5% voted against it. The union needed a majority to vote in favour but fell short by 29 votes.
If workers voted for recognition, the GMB would be given the right to represent them in negotiations over pay, hours and holidays with the online giant.
The battle for union recognition kicked off when Amazon offered its staff a pay rise of between 35p and 50p per hour in 2022, leading to GMB’s involvement and a slew of strikes at the business.
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GMB senior organiser Stuart Richards, who insisted the union would consider a legal challenge, said: “From day one Amazon have been relentless in their attacks on their own workforce.
“We’ve seen workers pressured into attending six hours of anti-union seminars on top of the fortune spent by Amazon bosses to scare workers.”
An Amazon spokesperson said: “We want to thank everyone who voted in this ballot. Across Amazon, we place enormous value on engaging directly with our employees and having daily conversations with them.
“It’s an essential part of our work culture. We value that direct relationship and so do our employees. This is why we’ve always worked hard to listen to them, act on their feedback, and invest heavily in great pay, benefits and skills development – all in a safe and inclusive workplace with excellent career opportunities.
“We look forward to continuing on that path with our team in Coventry.”
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