A ballot on whether Amazon UK should unionise, recently held at its Coventry site, failed by just 0.5% or 28 votes. More than 900 employees of the e-commerce giant are now bringing legal proceedings against Amazon UK for allegedly using illegal, union-busting techniques.
We go into detail about Amazon’s alleged “union-busting” activities, their potential effects, and what is likely to happen next. But before you carry on, sign up for our newsletter. That way you will receive all employment law-related news directly to your inbox!
Amazon’s Stance on Communication with Employees
Amazon UK employs more than 75,000 people across Britain; however, to date, it has never been answerable to a trade union. The online giant has always insisted that it prefers to maintain direct communication with its staff rather than liaise with a union on their behalf.
The first stirrings of discontent were felt in 2022. After working through lockdown, a number of Amazon employees in Coventry felt that a 35 to 50 pence pay increase was insulting and walked out in protest. After this incident, GMB got involved.
Union-busting, Anti-Union Seminars and Other Messaging
Over the past year, GMB and its members have been campaigning to increase pay and improve the working conditions for Amazon employees. Such campaigning has included more than 30 days of strike action and finally culminated in the historic ballot for union recognition.
This was to give Amazon employees the chance to decide for themselves. The ballot period was to take place from 19 June to 17 July 2024. However, before this began, Amazon UK was accused of “union-busting”.
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In the months leading up to the historic ballot for union recognition, Amazon UK put up posters around its warehouse. The posters featured a QR code which, when accessed by Amazon employees, generated an email to GMB, cancelling their union membership.
According to the law firm representing Amazon employees, the QR codes were displayed across the site – including in the canteens, corridors, and toilet. It was also visible on warehouse screens every five minutes. In addition, Amazon employees were allegedly required to attend “entirely voluntary” anti-union seminars.
According to GMB, Amazon circulated anti-union messages, telling Amazon employees that no pay rise would be forthcoming and that other employee benefits would be affected if they supported union recognition.
Union-Busting or Independent Choice? Amazon Employees Refuse Union Recognition
Around 2,600 Amazon employees took part in the ballot earlier this month, the results of which were released last week. GMB needed a majority vote to succeed in its quest for union recognition by Amazon UK.
Unfortunately, the 49.5% of Amazon employees who voted in favour of union recognition fell slightly short of the mark. GMB is convinced that Amazon’s activities constituted union-busting which influenced the outcome of the ballot. Under UK law, employers are prohibited from making any offer to employees with a view to inducing them to leave a trade union.
Amazon Denies Union-Busting; Saying Employees Asked for This Information
Now, Amazon employees have brought a claim against Amazon UK, alleging that the e-commerce giant did just that. Alongside the QR codes and anti-union messages, Amazon employees were offered free snacks and team meetings to discuss how voting for union recognition would be against their best interests.
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Here is What Trade Unions Have to Say
Whilst some classify Amazon’s actions of displaying QR codes and circulating anti-union messages as union-busting, Amazon has denied these accusations. A spokesperson for Amazon UK said that union membership is a personal choice. They further added, “Employees were telling us they wanted to cancel their membership but could not find a way to do so, so we provided information to help.”
GMB Disappointed but Hopeful About Future Success
GMB senior organiser, Amanda Gearing, has expressed disappointment but determination in the wake of the vote. She says, “This kind of union-busting has no place in 21st-century Britain, but this is just the beginning. Amazon now faces a legal challenge, while the fire lit by workers in Coventry and across the UK is still burning.”
As the law currently stands, GMB must now wait for three years before launching another ballot. Should the union-busting claim against Amazon succeed, however, this may not be the case.
The Trade Unions Congress is supportive of GMB’s spirit and actions to date and is optimistic about its future success. General secretary, Paul Nowak, states, “With Labour set to usher in a new era of stronger workers’ rights, companies like Amazon are on the wrong side of history.”
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Following Labour’s Election Win
During the King’s Speech last week, the Labour Party promised to introduce legislation to assist with these types of situations. This will reduce the threshold required for union recognition and enable union officials to recruit within workplaces more easily.
On this basis, GMB’s positive attitude toward the future is well-founded. After all, had the threshold been just 1% lower, GMB would have won its campaign for union recognition already.