IRELAND: An Irish trade union is worried that Amazon's opening of its first so-called "fulfilment centre" in Ireland this week may have a negative effect on the remuneration of logistics workers.
It was reported this week that the large warehouse has opened in Baldonnell, Co Dublin, the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland. The online shopping giant already operates a small delivery warehouse in nearby Rathcoole.
The business revealed that hiring is presently taking place at the new location, where about 500 positions will be created.
However, in response to the union worries, an Amazon spokeswoman stated that the company did not think unions were "the best answer" for its Irish staff.
UK walkouts
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has expressed concerns about the company's treatment of its employees as a result of workforce walkouts at Amazon UK.
Hundreds of Amazon employees in southeast England took to the streets on Wednesday and Thursday in protest of their salary.
800 or so workers protested a salary increase of 35 cents per hour by walking out. To aid with the rising cost of living, the GMB union has requested a £2 (€2.37) raise.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU), which in Ireland represents workers in the postal and logistics industries, expressed concern about potential wage effects of the company's increased presence in Ireland.
According to Seán McDonagh, the CWU General Secretary, "the possibility that an operator of this scale may have a negative impact on current pay and conditions in the industry is of particular concern."
It is understood that the starting hourly rate at the new location will be €13.50.
According to McDonagh, the union urged Amazon to obey Irish labour laws, particularly those pertaining to employee union membership.
"It is well known that Amazon does not have a good reputation in the world for having decent labour relations and treating its employees well. The company's anti-union stance is really concerning," McDonagh added.
The CWU is aware that Amazon workers in other countries, including the USA, are organising through trade unions to better progress and defend their rights and interests.
This includes the first US union, which former Amazon employee Christian Smalls founded in April in New York.
The CWU would like to speak with Amazon on a number of issues that will benefit their employees and contractors and ensure that the company respects the industrial relations machinery that we have in the state, according to McDonagh. "We also have no guarantees that deliveries will not include a reliance on the gig economy and low paid contractors," he continued.
A spokeswoman for Amazon responded to questions on worries about unionisation by saying that while workers have the option to join one, the multinational company doesn't think it's the best course of action.
"As a business, we don't believe that unions are the greatest option for our staff members. We want workers to identify ways to make their employment better every day, and when they do, we want to promptly implement those changes.
"With unions in the middle, that kind of continual improvement is more difficult to do swiftly and nimbly.
In recent years and months, the corporation, according to the representative, has made "excellent success" in "critical areas like wages and safety."
An Post offerings
Additionally, McDonagh questioned the potential effects of the new warehouse's opening on other carriers, including An Post.
"The growth of Amazon's operation in Ireland could potentially have a negative impact on other carriers, especially on the national carrier An Post, which throughout Covid demonstrated it is an essential service, supporting small businesses, particularly in rural Ireland, and the economy as a whole."
An Post, according to a spokeswoman, welcomed the launch of the new warehouse.
According to the spokesman, "We appreciate the opening of the new centre as it enables us to provide a quicker service for our consumers and keep up with the expansion of online shopping and ecommerce."
We work very closely with Amazon, one of our many large customers, to provide top quality parcel processing and deliveries of Amazon products.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.