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Workers at five of nine Amazon distribution centres in Germany have walked out in a two-day strike over pay, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
The strike began last night (Sunday 21st September) and is affecting centres in Bad Hersfeld, Leipzig, Graben and Rheinberg.
The dispute has come about because the Verdi labour union wants Amazon to offer German staff a collective wage agreement rather than its own pay policies.
Union board member Stefanie Nutzenberger told the WSJ: "We will... not accept that the company arbitrarily dictates salaries. Only a collective wage agreement guarantees workers salaries and working conditions that secure their livelihood." The union also criticised Amazon for overuse of temporary contracts, extreme work pressure, and a lack of regulation for breaks.The company is reported to employ 9,000 permanent workers in Germany, with 14,000 on temporary contracts.
Amazon has not commented to the WSJ on the industrial action.
Periodic Amazon staff walk-outs have taken place in Germany since last Christmas.