Amazon will continue to expand in Germany despite the latest strikes in a long-running dispute over pay levels.
Services union Verdi has called out workers at various Amazon Germany locations this week in a bid to press its claims for higher pay for the company’s employees. There had already been several stoppages in the last few weeks.
Stoppages will continue at the distribution warehouses at Rheinberg, Werne, Graben and Koblenz until tomorrow (December 24) while there was a two-day strike at the large centre at Bad Hersfeld and a one-day stoppage in Leipzig at the start of this week.
Verdi board member Stefanie Nutzenberger called on the company to end its ‘anti-union’ behaviour and finally agree to negotiate a collective deal for all employees in Germany.
But in response Amazon declared that it offers “good and safe jobs” for more than 10,000 workers at its nine logistics centres in Germany. “With pay starting from at least €10 per hour the company pays at the top end of what is normal for comparable work,” it declared.
The e-commerce giant said it has created more than 800 additional permanent jobs this year and plans to convert a further 200 temporary posts into permanent ones in January 2016. Overall, more than 80% of its workers are now on permanent contracts, and are supported by 10,000 temporary workers for the Christmas peak season.
Steven Harman, EU Director Operations, stated: “We’re a good employer. We’re pleased that we can offer a permanent contract to so many people who have helped us this year to provide a first-class service for our customers for the Christmas period.”
Amazon, with 29 logistics centres across Europe, said it will continue to invest in Germany with the planned opening of a new logistics centre in Werne in 2017.
