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GMB Union raises questions over huge public sector contracts while company accused of unlawful pressure on workers.
Amazon has been awarded taxpayer-funded public sector contracts totaling more than £1 billion in the past year – despite facing a legal challenge over union busting.
GMB will raise the issue in a motion to Labour conference today [Monday].
The total award value of contracts from the likes of the Home Office, HMRC, DWP and the MOJ to Amazon during the 12 months to September was £1.04 billion.
Biggest spender was the Home Office with £450 million, followed by HMRC who forked out £350 million – both expenditures were for online hosting services.
GMB’s findings, through analysis of public contract data provided by Tussell, will be raised in its motion on public procurement to Labour conference today. Amazon faces a legal challenge for union busting prior to a ballot for recognition, which GMB members lost by just a handful of votes.
Almost 1,500 GMB members have taken dozens of strike days at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse in their fight for union recognition and £15 an hour pay.
GMB’s motion makes clear that companies which recognise a trade union and properly allow unions to speak to their employees about recognition must be considered more favourably by public bodies when they weigh up who to award public contracts.
Gary Smith, GMB General Secretary, said, “The Government needs to be absolutely clear with Amazon – if they want to keep trousering hundreds of millions of taxpayer cash, they need to treat workers with respect.
“That means proper pay, ending the punishing workloads and surveillance which makes staff sick and listening to workers’ voices through their union, the GMB.
“Repealing anti-trade union laws has been a good start, but Ministers must now forge ahead with promised reforms to archaic rules that make it so difficult for workers’ unions to be recognised.”
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