WORKERS at the Amazon’s distribution hub in Italy and six warehouses in Germany are striking on Black Friday - sparking chaos on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
The Italians have joined the rest of Europe in embracing the US tradition of Black Friday, which is a day of discounts by retailers following Thanksgiving.
But, according to unions, more than 500 Amazon workers at the Piacenza site agreed to strike after a failure to negotiate bonuses within the company.
Workers have also said that they will not do any overtime until December 31.
Amazon employs around 1,600 people at the Piacenza site.
The secretary of CGIL in Piacenza, Gianluca Zilocchi, said: “We want a bonus because the company is having great results, and the profits need to be distributed.
“There’s also a question of rights and a suffocating climate for worker. Amazon squeezes people, it makes very heavy demands on workers.”
The trade union Verdi, in Germany, also said Amazon employees would strike on Friday at six distribution centres in the country following a row over pay and conditions.
Verdi board member Stefanie Nutzenberger said: “The world’s biggest online retailer wants to achieve record sales on this day, but employees have to produce record performance not only on this day so that everything runs how Amazon wants it.”
Amazon said it would focus on guaranteeing scheduled deliveries for its customers on Black Friday.
They said that salaries paid to its workers were among the highest in the logistic sector and it also provided some benefits such as private medical insurance or cash for training programmes.
The Amazon strike in Italy came as the country’s trade union have clashed with the ruling centre-left Democratic party led by Matteo Renzi over labour market reforms.
Amazon has faced criticism over its tax practices with Italy joining other European countries in demanding a reform on the way that e-retailers pay tax.