Quantcast

Investors urge amazon to respect Coventry workers' right

Flight made emergency landing in Denver after reported animal strike and engine fire
General Dynamics says G800 jet receives FAA, EASA certifications
United Airlines doubles down on Chicago roots with new O'Hare billboards
Gatwick airport strikes, Easter 2025: will my flight be cancelled?
Boarding passes and check-in could be scrapped in air travel shake-up
European air traffic warning means summer delays for holidaymakers
The EU rule change that could affect millions of Brits when their flight is delayed or cancelled
Delta Earnings Land Soon. Why They’re Key for Airline Stocks and the Economy.
Avelo Airlines to Operate Deportation Flights, Hiring Flight Attendants
Travel chaos 2025: all the strikes and disruption expected across Europe
Qatar Airways accelerates Starlink wifi implementation
Southwest Airlines extends flight schedule through early April 2025
Cathay Pacific reaches 3,400 pilots this year, with low resignation rate of 2.9%
Qatar Airways Nears Boeing 777 Fleet-Wide Starlink Upgrade
United receives FAA approval for first Starlink-equipped planes
50 New Routes Launching In April 2025
Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Investors urge amazon to respect Coventry workers' right
Webp ggy1rw92odvmussx5c0xxiv9pm47
Matthew Painter Head of Communications | UNI Global Union

A coalition of 50 global investors, representing over US$1.2 trillion in assets, has called on Amazon to address serious concerns regarding workers’ rights to organize with the GMB at its Coventry fulfillment center in the UK. This group, which includes prominent investors like NEST and Storebrand, demands that Amazon align its practices with its stated Global Human Rights Principles.

Despite Amazon’s declared commitment to the International Labour Organization’s Core Conventions and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, investors are troubled by reports suggesting that Amazon’s response to workers’ organizing efforts contradicts these commitments. The letter sent to Amazon insists on an explanation of how the company respects fundamental rights such as freedom of association and collective bargaining at the Coventry facility.

The concerns of these investors follow legal action initiated by the GMB Union in April, accusing Amazon of coercing employees to abandon their union memberships. Allegedly, anti-union messages have been propagated within the fulfillment center, and QR codes leading to union membership cancellation emails have been displayed.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

In 2023, CCLA and other investors had previously encouraged Amazon to voluntarily recognize the GMB Union at Coventry. Although the Central Arbitration Committee ruled in favor of a union recognition vote, Amazon has yet to voluntarily acknowledge the union. The current investor letter is a follow-up to a recent proposal at Amazon’s AGM, which called for an independent report on Amazon’s commitment to employees’ rights. This proposal garnered significant support, with 37.4 percent of independent shareholders voting in favor.

Peter Hugh Smith, CCLA Chief Executive, emphasized the importance of addressing these issues both for the sake of Amazon’s employees and for maintaining investor trust. “As an investor in Amazon, we want to do the right thing – both by our clients who expect us to be good stewards of their capital and by Amazon’s employees. In light of the countless media reports and allegations, and given two major ESG data providers have expressed concerns, questions from investors need to be answered. We want to see Amazon appoint a reputable third party to assess how they implement their human rights policies in UK fulfillment centers and to commit to rectifying any areas of non-conformance identified. The clock is ticking and it is time for Amazon to set the record straight.”

Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, lauded the investors’ efforts: “It’s encouraging to see investors take a stand and push for greater accountability at Amazon. We applaud these investors for their commitment and urge all stakeholders to maintain consistent engagement beyond AGMs. By actively participating in this ongoing dialogue, investors can drive meaningful changes that prioritize the well-being of Amazon’s workers. UNI Global Union fully supports these efforts and calls on all investors to join in ensuring that Amazon upholds the highest standards of worker rights and fair treatment.”

Other investors including representatives from Foster Denovo, Folksam, and KLP echoed these sentiments, highlighting reputational and operational risks if international labor standards continue being disregarded. Emilie Westholm from Folksam expressed concern over Amazon’s persistent failure to respect labor rights while Kiran Aziz from KLP pointed out inadequate responses during shareholder engagement.

Amanda Gearing, GMB Senior Organizer stated: “All GMB members at Amazon Coventry are calling for is respect and fair treatment. Instead we’ve seen Amazon bosses pile company resources into union-busting tactics and stripping low paid workers of a voice. Pressure is building on Amazon to do the right thing and get out of the way of workers attempts to build a better life.”

The pressure on Amazon from this significant coalition underscores a critical need for proactive measures addressing human rights issues within its operations globally.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Various airlines around the world often assign Flight Number 1 to important or historical routes.

Apr 29, 2025

Eurowings, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, reported notable performance metrics in the first quarter of 2025, suggesting heightened customer satisfaction.

Apr 29, 2025

SWISS has reported a CHF 3 million operating result for the first quarter of 2025, compared to CHF 31 million in the same period last year.

Apr 29, 2025

The Learjet 75 Liberty marks a significant chapter in the history of private aviation.

Apr 28, 2025

United Airlines is expanding its international network from Denver International Airport with the addition of two new routes.

Apr 28, 2025

Romania's commercial aviation industry is centered around Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport, also known as OTP, which serves as a primary gateway to the Romanian capital.

Apr 28, 2025