German unions will strike against Amazon.
The union organized several short strikes this year in an attempt to force the world's largest online retailer, founded by Jeff Bezos, to accept a collective agreement and employment conditions similar to those in the postal and retail sectors, which are more generous than those in the logistics sector.
FRANKFURT, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The Verdi union is preparing more strikes to increase pressure on Amazon in Germany, its largest market outside the United States, in a dispute over pay and contract terms, German media reported.
Amazon workers in Bad Hersfeld and Leipzig will hold strikes at least on Monday, Heiner Reimann of Verdi told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper.
The union organized several short strikes this year in an attempt to force the world's largest online retailer to accept a collective agreement and employment conditions similar to those in the postal and retail sectors, which are more generous than those in the logistics sector.
Amazon classifies its personnel in Bad Hersfeld and Leipzig as logistics workers, and claims they receive above-average pay by industry standards.
Trade unionist Stefanie Nutzenberger told the weekly magazine Welt am Sonntag that the union could expand its activities beyond these two industrial centers during the holiday season.
Amazon employs around 9 people in Germany. Sales in that country grew almost 21 percent in 2012, to $8,7 billion, representing a third of its total overseas revenue.
(By Maria Sheahan)