Amazon faces global opposition in its annual “Make Amazon Pay” workers’ strike

The day after Thanksgiving begins one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year – but Amazon is facing a global strike by its workers demanding better wages and working conditions at the retailer.

Amazon workers on six continents planned strikes and protests that lasted through Cyber ​​Monday. Strikes were expected in more than 20 countries, including the United States, Germany, India and Japan.

Workers are campaigning for better wages and working conditions as well as more climate responsibility from Amazon.

The demonstrations, now in their fifth year, are an annual event aimed at holding Amazon more accountable for its social and environmental impacts.

“Amazon’s relentless pursuit of profit comes at the expense of workers, the environment and democracy,” Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, said in a statement about this year’s demonstrations. “Bezos’ company has spent untold millions to discourage workers from organizing, but strikes and protests around the world show that workers’ desire for justice – for union representation – cannot be stopped. We collectively demand that Amazon treats its employees fairly, respects fundamental rights and stops undermining the systems that are designed to protect us all.”

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Amazon accounts for a large portion of Black Friday and holiday spending. It announced net sales of $170 billion in this quarter last year.

In recent years, the company has resisted early union formation in its U.S. operations.