Thousands of employees and activists plan to stage Amazon Black Friday protests in over 20 countries, demanding better labor rights and environmental accountability. Scheduled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, these actions target one of retail’s busiest shopping periods, from November 29th to December 2nd.
The Make Amazon Pay campaign organized these protests worldwide, which represents more than 80 unions and advocacy organizations. Major cities in the US, India, the UK, Japan, Brazil, Turkey, Canada, Germany, and other countries will host protests by workers and representatives.
The protestors want more significant environmental regulations, better workplace safety, fair taxation ecological regulations, better workplace safety, union recognitions, and fair compensation from Amazon.
In London, protesters will assemble outside Amazon’s headquarters on Bishopsgate, delivering a petition with over 110,000 signatures. Protestors will then march to 11 Downing Street to demand that the chancellor remove corporate tax advantages that favor Amazon. UNI Global General Secretary Christy Hoffman highlighted the stakes: “Amazon’s relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment, and democracy.”
Furthermore, Amazon defended its practices, emphasizing competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and renewable energy initiatives. The company stated that UK starting salaries would reach £28,000 annually and claimed that by 2022, electricity use would be fully matched with renewable sources.
However, critics, including Amazon employees for climate justice, argue that the company’s emissions have surged 34.5% since 2019, showing limited progress towards the 2040 net-zero target. As Amazon Black Friday protests unfold, they mark the fifth year of Make Amazon Pay campaigns focusing on dissatisfaction with the global retail giant.
