Wildcat Actions Breakout at Amazon in the UK

On August 4th between 700 and 1000 workers at an Amazon warehouse in Tilbury, Essex took wildcat action in response to a pay increase offer of only 35p-per-hour increase.

The Tilbury warehouse is one of Amazon’s largest in Europe. One worker at the warehouse said Amazon treats them “like slaves”.
The actions started on Wednesday 3rd and escalated by Thursday 4th.

Workers also took action at the Lyon's Park Amazon warehouse in Coventry with about 100 workers occupying the canteen. 

Similar actions happened at Dartford in Kent as well as depot in Belvedere, Hemel Hempstead, Chesterfield and Coalville, Leicestershire.

On August 3rd scores of Amazon workers also took wildcat action at Rugeley Amazon Fulfilment Centre in the West Midlands. That strike was over a 50p-per-hour pay rise offer.

There was also wildcat action at Amazon’s massive warehouse in Bristol. Only a week before the Amazon strikes, on the 28th of July, a wildcat strike happened at Cranswick Continental Foods in Pilsworth, Bury. Over 100 workers were involved in the action that was about pay and conditions. One worker said: "People are tired, exhausted, and just want to have proper breaks - drink, rest".

Seething anger amongst workers could result in this form of militant direct action spreading. Wildcat strikes are feared by bosses and union officials because they show how people can act outside the control of the mediating role of trade unions. Wildcat strikes also can spread like wildfire, especially in distribution industries. 

This current set of actions by Amazon workers has the potential to go global.