Thousands of Amazon warehouse workers were set to strike on Black Friday in an effort to push the online shopping giant for better wages.
The “Make Amazon Pay” initiative was planned to take place in more than 30 countries, including the U.S., India, Australia, and several in Europe.
In Germany, Black Friday strikes were planned in nine of 20 Amazon warehouses throughout the country. However, as of Friday morning, the company said the vast majority of its German employees were working as normal.
The website makeamazonpay.com asserts that real wages are dropping for Amazon workers while the company makes record revenues. The company made $121 billion in the 2nd Quarter of 2022. The website further states that Amazon paid no income tax in Europe last year.
“As an employer, Amazon offers great pay, benefits and development opportunities—all in an attractive and safe working environment,” a spokesperson for Amazon in Germany said in a statement to Reuters.
The spokesperson also pointed to a September increase in wages for Amazon logistics employees in Germany, with starting pay now at 13 euros ($13.52) per hour or more, including bonus payments.
The American news outlet The Hill reached out to Amazon for comment and had not heard back as of Friday morning.
