Coventry Socialist Party members
On 28 February, the second day of strike action began at Coventry’s Amazon warehouse. Socialist Party members went to the picket line at the first shift change, bringing our solidarity and discussing the fight.
Around us, dozens upon dozens of striking workers, in the GMB union, enthusiastically queued to sign up as picketers. They took up hi-vis jackets and placards, and set out to convince their co-workers to back this historic strike.
The organised picket quickly caused a gigantic traffic queue, a symbol of the power of the workers! At the front were picketers trying to convince a lorry driver to join his colleagues in turning around.
It’s clear that Amazon’s bosses – as well as those of other big businesses – are worried those few could inspire the rest. The task for unions organising workers in Amazon and across the industry is to turn that fear into reality.
Striking workers today told us they know if they can build up action and spread it, they can win.
They know the billionaires that run big businesses like Amazon can afford to pay them a decent wage and give them decent working conditions, but they’re also learning that under capitalism you have to fight for it!
Bringing Amazon workers into coordinated strike action alongside other sections of the working class would strengthen and embolden the fight against low pay, grim working conditions and austerity, and against the idea that bosses and their politicians can make us pay for the crisis of capitalism.
- GMB members at Amazon will strike for a week from 13 March
