Thousands of Amazon employees across more than 20 countries are gearing up to protest or strike during Black Friday to demand better working conditions and climate accountability from the retail giant.

Unions and workers' groups are organizing these actions between Black Friday and Cyber Monday (29 November to 2 December), a period known for massive sales and heightened warehouse activity as retailers, including Amazon, fulfill a surge in customer orders.

Coordinated Global Action

The protests, spanning major cities in the US, Germany, the UK, Turkey, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil, and others, are being led by the Make Amazon Pay campaign. This movement urges Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos—the world’s second-richest individual—to prioritize fair wages, workers’ rights, union recognition, environmental sustainability, and equitable tax contributions.

Make Amazon Pay is backed by over 80 organizations, including trade unions, anti-poverty groups, and advocacy groups for garment workers. Its leadership includes the Swiss-based UNI Global Union and Progressive International, a coalition advocating for workers’ rights and environmental justice.

Highlighting Worker and Climate Justice

In London, protests are planned at Amazon’s UK headquarters on Bishopsgate, where activists will deliver a petition with more than 110,000 signatures calling on the UK government to halt tax breaks for Amazon and other large corporations. This demonstration will culminate in a march to 11 Downing Street.

Amanda Gearing, a senior organizer at the UK’s GMB union, described Amazon as a symbol of the economic challenges workers face today. “Insecure work, poverty wages, and unsafe conditions—this is not the future of work we will accept,” she said.

The UK campaign includes an online rally, while strikes in Germany will affect warehouses in cities such as Dortmund, Leipzig, and Koblenz. French activists from ATTAC, a group advocating for tax fairness, will hold demonstrations in multiple cities as part of the fifth year of Make Amazon Pay protests.

A Global Movement for Change

“Amazon’s relentless pursuit of profit comes at a significant cost to workers, the environment, and democratic values,” said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. She noted that despite Amazon’s efforts to discourage unionization, global protests and strikes reflect workers' enduring commitment to justice and fair treatment.

Last year, Amazon workers in Coventry narrowly voted against union recognition. However, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) remains determined to secure union representation at the warehouse.

Amazon Responds

An Amazon spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to competitive pay, benefits, and safe working conditions. The spokesperson also highlighted Amazon’s investment in renewable energy, claiming it is the largest purchaser globally. They pointed out that the company’s UK starting salary is £28,000 annually for a four-day workweek.

Despite these assurances, critics argue that Amazon falls short on climate action, with the campaign group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice noting a 34.5% increase in annual carbon emissions since 2019. They also accuse the company of lacking interim goals to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2040.

The global protests aim to hold Amazon accountable, challenging its labor and environmental practices while pushing for systemic reforms to protect workers and the planet.