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The new leader of one of Britain’s biggest unions has vowed to tackle Amazon by preparing an international campaign to organize its warehouses and improve conditions for its workers.
In an interview with the ObserverSharon Graham, who became general secretary of Unite last week after a shock victory, said she was in talks with unions in Germany and the United States – Amazon’s other major markets – to effectively form a global union campaign that would “pinch” Amazon and force it to allow workers to organize more freely.
Graham said she wanted to deploy “leverage” tactics against tough employers to convince Amazon to sign a “neutrality deal,” a document ensuring warehouse workers can form a union without fear of repercussions. The campaign would include pressure on the governments of the three countries to use their power as Amazon’s main customers to pressure them.
“I speak to German and American unions because we are their three biggest markets in both [web services] and electronic commerce, ”she said. “Let’s work together to organize Amazon in these three countries. If we do that, we could actually pinch them simultaneously in their three biggest markets. Once we get a neutrality agreement, these workers will join the union. They won’t do it now because they’re too scared – they think they’re going to be fired.
“What I would say to [Amazon founder] Jeff Bezos is that he should treat workers fairly, come to the table and sign the neutrality agreement. Eventually, it will have to happen. We’re not going to be bored. If it takes two years, it takes two years. Resources will be allocated. Because if we don’t, you are ignoring the beast that dictates bad behavior. It may as well go around quickly. We are on the long term. We could actually crack Amazon. And that would be an incredible thing.
Amazon has repeatedly been accused of refusing to recognize unions. Last year, the TUC compiled a document in which it said workers described grueling conditions, unrealistic productivity goals, surveillance, bogus self-employment and a refusal to acknowledge or engage with workers. unions unless you are forced to. The company disputed the allegations.
“We respect the right of our employees to join, form or not join a trade union or other legal organization of their own selection without fear of retaliation, intimidation or harassment,” said a spokesperson. word.
“Through Amazon, we place great importance on daily conversations with associates and strive to ensure that direct engagement with our employees is an integral part of our work culture. The point is, we already offer a great salary, great benefits and great career development opportunities, all while working in a safe and modern working environment. The unions know this.
Graham, who used her leadership campaign to say she wanted to end the union’s heavy involvement in Labor Party management, said Keir Starmer’s office had previously been in contact to set up a meeting with her after his victory. She said she would demand to know what action Labor was taking to end ‘fire and rehire’ practices.
“I will not talk about the Labor leadership. I will not speak of internal Labor quarrels. I’m going to talk about layoff and rehiring, and what is Labor going to do about it? When and how are they going to step up a gear? The Labor Party is not in power at the moment. A parliamentary labor party is not going to stop the job losses, they are not going to stop the cutting of wages, they are not going to stop what is happening to the workers there. So that’s not my number one priority.
She also said that even if she would continue to pay the Unity fee to be affiliated with the party, any further additional funding would be conditional on the Labor Party being able to prove that it was helping Unite’s industrial priorities.
“I am not just going to hand over checks on top of our club membership without understanding how this advances the plight of workers,” she said. “I’m going to ask, ‘What are you going to do? There will be nothing more unless, of course, I can show that it is important in moving workers’ issues forward. I hope Labor will, because it is part of their raison d’être. “
Graham said she would reform the union in “combination” sector by sector – a move designed to increase the union’s power with more powerful employers.
She said she was “very proud” of the leverage tactics she has deployed against hostile employers, which allow the union to target a company’s business vulnerabilities such as potential contracts, shareholders or acquisitions, in order to pursue its goals. She said her “non-traditional” methods were necessary because persuasion and argumentation didn’t work with hostile employers.
“We’re doing a very, very detailed research paper looking at all aspects of the business – shareholders, customers, future customers, investments,” she said. “We are getting into the nerve of money. We think, “OK, what’s more important to them than what they’re trying to do here? This is the responsibility. When an employer goes from what I would call normal, acceptable behavior to very hostile terrain, like firing workers and then re-hiring them, I don’t think we can just sit back and watch that happen.
“I will be very thoughtful and serious about the plans we are putting in place around public sector compensation, for example, but also around the private sector. We need to make sure that we protect jobs and conditions. And I will do whatever we need to do to do it.
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