Amazon workers in over 20 countries, including the U.S., are gearing up for strikes between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Their goal? To “make Amazon pay,” organizers announced Thursday.
These "days of resistance" aim to hold Amazon accountable for labor abuses, environmental harm, and democratic threats, according to UNI Global Union and Progressive International. The groups claim the time has come for change.
“No matter how much they spend to fight us, corporations like Amazon cannot break the power of workers standing together,” said Christy Hoffman, UNI Global Union’s General Secretary. She highlighted efforts in Germany for collective bargaining rights and global solidarity from India to the U.S. and Canada. ‘Make Amazon Pay Day’, she said, proves workers’ demands for justice cannot be silenced.
The strikes will involve workers in major U.S. cities and other nations like the U.K., France, Germany, Japan, Brazil, India, and Turkey. Various unions and worker rights groups will back these efforts, organizers added.
Amazon pushed back against the claims, calling them “intentionally misleading” and part of a “false narrative.” “The fact is, at Amazon we provide great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities — all from day one,” spokesperson Eileen Hards said. She emphasized Amazon’s creation of over 1.5 million jobs worldwide and its commitment to safe, engaging workplaces.
This marks the fifth year of holiday season strikes against Amazon. In New Delhi, India, UNI Global Union reported hundreds of workers will rally for fair treatment after enduring Amazon’s alleged mistreatment during last summer’s severe heatwave.
“[Jeff] Bezos’s company has spent untold millions to stop workers from organizing,” Hoffman said. “But the strikes and protests worldwide show workers’ desire for justice can’t be stopped.” She called for Amazon to respect workers, honor fundamental rights, and cease undermining protective systems.
The total number of workers striking in the U.S. and abroad remains unclear.