First strike at Amazon
"Serenity insured for your Christmas shopping: place an order before 12:30 pm December 22 with fast delivery or before 16:30 December 23 with the Lightning shipping, and Amazon.fr you book in time for Christmas in metropolitan France and Monaco!". In his mail, Amazon reassuring. However, a strike after the tip of his nose in the only warehouse logistics France, in Saran, Loiret. On site, 40 employees on the 1200 account that the site have ceased trading on Tuesday's call to denounce FO difficult working conditions and wages too low.
The trigger was the decision of management to Amazon to unilaterally raise salaries by 1.5%. "We wanted a dialogue and we have not been heeded. This increase represents an increase of 18 to 20 euros net per month.It is insufficient to increase purchasing power, "complains Sebastian Boissonnet, Steward FW from Amazon. The union does not fail to recall that in the third quarter, the site of online sales has earned a 68% growth in net income. Its operating profit rose 62% to 251 million dollars for a turnover up 28% to 5.45 billion dollars.
Recognizing this, the strikers demanded a general increase of 4.8%, a 13th month for employees, supervisors and managers, meal vouchers supported 60% by the company, and finally a budget increase of Works for social works.
No disturbances
To listen to the strikers themselves, the service should not be disturbed. The company has in fact appeals to a reinforcement of 600 to 700 to ensure the temporary work.Tuesday, Amazon reminded the AFP's requirements: "Our customers are our priority, we continue to do our best to ensure the quality of the experience of shopping on Amazon is optimal, and this obviously includes the fact to be delivered in time for Christmas. " Contacted for comment on Wednesday wage demands, the U.S. did not wish to speak.
Pressure
For the union, this strike will probably not reopen discussions but it should attract attention on the working conditions of employees. According to FP, these are deplorable and become even more in October, early Christmas shopping. "We always stores addition, discharge huge pallets without security. When one points out, we answered 'done with'.On 7 hours of work, we have only 23 minutes break, so we ask for 10 more minutes, "says Sebastian Boissonnet.
The pressure is also very hierarchical palpable. Hence the low mobilization. "There are services management at the plant. Since Tuesday, the manager came to us saying 'think about what you do'. "
For now, the union discussed the action in motion. This is the first strike from Amazon. A baptism that the company could have done at this time of celebration. Especially since the group table, during this period, a boom in sales of between 21% and 36% compared to fourth quarter 2008.
