Amazon workers in Germany to go on strike over coronavirus infections

Amazon workers at six sites across Germany plan to strike Monday because dozens of staff members at its logistics centers have been infected with the coronavirus, union officials told Reuters. The union says the company is prioritizing profits over workers’ safety.

The strike called by the powerful Verdi union is set to last until Tuesday morning and will also cover “Cyber Monday”, another extravaganza of online discounts in what is a crucial sales period for Amazon.

In recent months, Amazon warehouse workers in the US have staged protests over what they say are unsafe working conditions, and walked off the job in several cities. Workers criticized the company for not notifying workers when colleagues tested positive for the coronavirus. A group of three Amazon warehouse workers in New York filed suit against the company earlier this month, alleging the company put them and their families at risk of contracting the virus.

More than 2,000 Amazon workers in Germany walked off the job as the US online retailer kicked off its “Black Friday” sales bonanza, escalating a long-simmering battle for better pay and working conditions.