Ultimately this is a fight our members must win for themselves; and that’s what they’re doing
Keir Starmer has told Amazon it should recognise GMB Union at TUC congress today [20 October].
The Labour leader made the comment as he responded to questions from delegates at the event in Brighton.
Mr Starmer said: ‘I would be very clear...to Amazon: they should recognise the GMB.’
GMB members working for Amazon organised the first ever UK strike vote in the company, which finished yesterday.
Despite 99.3 per cent of workers voting to strike, the legal threshold needed for industrial action was missed by just three votes (49.1 per cent)
GMB has long campaigned for Amazon to officially recognise the union in a bid to help improve the company’s record on health and safety issues.
Amazon made more than £430 million from the public sector between 2017 and 2022.
Gary Smith, GMB General Secretary, said:
“It’s great to hear from the man who is on course to be Prime Minister that he thinks Amazon should recognise GMB as the trade union for the company’s workers.
“But ultimately this is a fight our members must win for themselves; and that’s just what they are doing.
"Amazon workers are angry about pay and angry about the company’s health and safety record. The company needs to listen.”
