Amazon worker strike: 5 things to know

Thousands of Amazon workers around the world went on strike Friday, demanding more pay and better working conditions during one of the retail giant's busiest weekends of the year.

The strike, dubbed "Make Amazon Pay," has planned demonstrations in more than 20 countries including the United States, and the protests are slated to last through Cyber Monday.

Here's what you need to know:

Why are some Amazon workers on strike?

The strike, organized by the UNI Global Union and Progressive International, seeks to "hold Amazon accountable for labour abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy," the union federation said in a statement this week.

"Amazon's relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy," Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, said in a statement.

"[Amazon founder Jeff] Bezos's company has spent untold millions to stop workers from organizing, but the strikes and protests happening around the world show that workers' desire for justice — for union representation — can't be stopped," Hoffman added.

The demonstrations are asking Amazon to pay workers fairly, commit to environmental sustainability and respect workers' right to join unions, the organization said.

Ahead of Friday's strike, the union also questioned Amazon's "influence" on democracies, citing reports the company underreported its millions in lobbying expenditures in Europe or about the e-commerce giant's challenges to the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Amazon workers have become increasingly vocal over labor and financial concerns in recent years as online retail sales continue to skyrocket.

E-commerce now outpaces traditional retail growth, according to numerous studies. Online shoppers in the U.S. spent more than $6 billion this year on Thanksgiving, when many of the holiday sales began, Salesforce said.

What Amazon is saying

Amazon pushed back on the group's accusations, claiming the global union is "being intentionally misleading and continues to promote a false narrative."

"The fact is at Amazon we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities—all from day one. We’ve created more than 1.5 million jobs around the world, and counting, and we provide a modern, safe, and engaging workplace whether you work in an office or at one of our operations buildings," Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards said in a statement.

Earlier this year, Amazon announced a $2.2 billion investment to increase pay for fulfillment and transportation employees in the U.S., raising the base wage for employees to more than $22 per hour or $29 per hour when including the value of elected benefits.

These benefits include health, vision and dental insurance, a 401(k) with 50 percent company match and up to 20 weeks paid leave, the company said.

The strike is a global effort

While Amazon is based in the United States, challenges against its labor practices are unfolding across six continents.

In India, an estimated 200 warehouse workers and delivery drivers gathered in the capital of New Delhi on Friday, The Associated Press reported. The workers were seen under a "Make Amazon Pay" banner, while some wore masks of Bezos, AP added.

Amazon was sent a notice from India's National Human Rights Commission in June 2023 after local media reported workers were forced to work without breaks during the hot summer season, the AP said. Amazon India denied the charge.

Workers from the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Italy and Nepal also joined walkouts in various warehouses in Germany. Images and videos posted by UNI showed dozens of protestors holding "Make Amazon Pay" banners while walking through the streets of Germany.

Similar demonstrations took place in France, Bangladesh, Australia, London and the United States, among other nations, the union said on the social platform X. Amazon Teamsters held demonstrations across the U.S, including in California, New York, Kentucky, Michigan and Illinois. 

A spokesperson for UNI Global Union estimated thousands of workers are involved in strikes, though a specific number was not provided. More than 30 unions, environmental organizations and civil society groups are part of the effort.

Cyber weekend strike now in 5th year

This year's "Make Amazon Pay Day" is the fifth year demonstrations have been held over the holiday weekend.

The first event was launched in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic as Amazon saw record profits resulting from a surge of online shopping.

The movement has expanded across dozens of unions, activists and allied organizations with each year, the union said.

Amazon faces scrutiny in Washington

This weekend's movement echoes similar fights happening on Capitol Hill targeting Amazon.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has spearheaded several of these efforts.

Earlier this year, he released an investigative report ahead of the company's Prime Day sale that found nearly half of its on-site workers were injured during the same event in 2019. Sanders said it was an example of the "type of corporate greed" Americans are "sick and tired of."

Amazon and the NLRB have also repeatedly clashed in recent years, and the federal agency has accused the company of having policies that make it more difficult for workers to organize and retaliate against those who do.

Updated at 5:05 p.m. EST