Amazon hit by strikes, protests across Europe

LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters): Amazon workers walked out on strike at multiple locations across Europe on Friday in protests against the US e-commerce giant's working practices on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
"Make Amazon Pay", a campaign coordinated by the UNI Global Union, said strikes and protests would take place in more than 30 countries from Black Friday - the day after the US Thanksgiving holiday, when many retailers slash prices to boost sales - until Monday.
Originally known for crowds lining up at big-box stores in the U.S., Black Friday has increasingly moved online and gone global, fueled in part by Amazon, which this year has advertised holiday discounts from Nov. 17 to Nov. 27.
In Germany, Amazon's second-biggest market by sales last year, trade union Verdi estimated that around 2,000 workers went on strike across six Amazon fulfillment centre in Germany.
It said 500 workers had gone on strike at a warehouse in Rheinberg, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the workforce, and around 250 workers had done so at a warehouse in Leipzig, accounting for about 20 per cent there.
An Amazon spokesperson in Germany said only a small number of workers were on strike, and that workers are paid fair wages, with a starting salary of more than 14 euros ($15.27) an hour. The spokesperson said deliveries of Black Friday orders would be reliable and timely.
In England, more than 200 workers were striking on Friday at Amazon's warehouse in Coventry as part of a long-running dispute over pay.