Amazon workers go on strike in Germany

Workers went on strike at German sites of Amazon yesterday to increase pressure on the US online retail giant during the busy Christmas period in a long-running pay dispute.

Around 2,300 employees took part in the work stoppage at five of the company’s nine distribution centres in Germany, the services sector union Verdi said.

The strike, which is due to continue until Wednesday evening, will extend to a sixth site from today, it said in a statement, calling yesterday’s turnout a “great success”.

“The employees are increasing the pressure on Amazon,” Verdi’s Stefanie Nutzenberger said, accusing Amazon of a “blockade attitude”.

Amazon said it would still deliver on time and pointed out that only a minority of employees were taking part.