Amazon strike could cause ‘major delivery delays’ this weekend

STAFF at the Amazon logistics centre in San Fernando de Henares (Madrid) staged the last of eight days of strikes today (Friday) designed to clash with the busiest delivery times of the year, and the company has warned of ‘major delays’ likely in orders being received.

One of Spain’s main unions, the Labourers’ Commissions (CCOO) said seven in 10 workers on the daytime shift took part in the industrial action yesterday (Thursday) and six in 10 on the night shift, although Amazon says these figures are overestimated and the ‘vast majority’ of employees turned up to work as usual.

The online shopping giant has been diverting orders to its other logistics centres in Spain, mainly to the one in Barcelona, to ensure parcels hit the road within the standard time frame in light of the traditional gift-giving celebration of the Three Kings, on the night of January 5.

Today brings the last of eight strike days, the first two of which – on November 23 and 24 – were scheduled to clash with Black Friday, followed by another two on December 7 and 9 to coincide with the bank holidays for Constitution Day (December 6) and the Immaculate Conception (December 8).

Amazon delivery warehouse staff in San Fernando de Henares also downed tools between December 15 and 30 to create Christmas chaos, as well as yesterday and today, the latter two of which bring the highest numbers of orders all year in Spain.

Employees are in deadlock with the web-based retailer over the terms of their union contract – Amazon says their salaries are ‘competitive’, at an annual minimum of €19,300, being approximately a monthly take-home pay of €1,324.60, in line with the standard market rate for delivery warehouse workers.

On top of this, says Amazon, staff get a ‘full package’ of perks and benefits, and ongoing in-house training and promotion opportunities.

Staff say their previous union contract, which came up for renewal in March, included guaranteed annual pay rises, sick-pay top-ups so that those off ill would still get their full wages, plus favourable overtime rates and job titles, but that the company ‘unilaterally imposed’ a more restrictive and far less beneficial deal in its place.

Employment law in Spain does not allow companies to change salary scales or working conditions for the worse without a majority vote in favour by employees and their unions.

The packaging and delivery centre in Madrid staged a strike over ‘Prime Day’ in July, and although the latest series of industrial action is set to be the last for the moment, unions have not ruled out further action – including protest marches – if the stalemate continues.

Deliveries affected will mainly be those ordered through Amazon.es, but may also hinder shipping of purchases from Amazon sites in other countries being delivered to Spain.