Sunday, August 07, 2022

Amazon defends stance on trade unions as new Dublin facility opens

Communications Workers Union: 'It is of major concern that the company is anti-trade union'


The Amazon fulfilment centre at Baldonnell Business Park in Dublin was opened this week.
 Picture: Sasko Lazarov - RollingNews.ie

FRI, 05 AUG, 2022 - 
ALAN HEALY

Amazon opened its first package fulfilment centre in Ireland this week and defended itself against union claims and criticisms of its treatment of workers.

The new warehouse in Baldonnell, Co. Dublin, will create 500 jobs and will allow the company to provide faster delivery times for customers across Ireland, Amazon said.

However, the opening of the facility comes as one of the largest companies in the world faces scrutiny in various countries for its approach to workers joining unions and a walk-out by 800 workers in a dispute over pay at an Amazon warehouse in England this week.

On the commencement of operations in Ireland, the Communications Workers Union (CWU) said Amazon must respect industrial relations mechanisms in Ireland and engage positively with workers who organise into a trade union.

“It is well known that Amazon does not have a positive history globally, in terms of good industrial relations and in its treatment of workers," CWU General Secretary, Seán McDonagh, said. "It is of major concern that the company is anti-trade union."

The CWU, the primary trade union representing workers in the logistics and delivery sectors, said the potential for an operator of Amazon's scale to have a downward influence on pay and conditions in the industry is of particular concern.

"The CWU would wish to talk to Amazon on a range 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," Mr McDonagh said.

Defending their work practices, Amazon told the Irish Examiner that employees have the choice of whether or not to join a union.

"As a company, we don’t think unions are the best answer for our employees. Every day we empower people to find ways to improve their jobs, and when they do that we want to make those changes — quickly. That type of continuous improvement is harder to do quickly and nimbly with unions in the middle," the company said in a statement.

"We already offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and opportunities for career growth, all while working in a modern, safe and engaging work environment."

Amazon unveils first Irish fulfilment centre in Dublin

5th August 2022
Isabel Cameron

Amazon has opened its first Irish warehouse in Dublin, with the site expected to create 500 jobs.

The ecommerce giant confirmed that the fulfilment centre, located at Baldonnell Business Park, opened this week and is the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland.

The 630,000 square-foot centre will serve customers across the island of Ireland and the rest of Europe, housing millions of products.

READ MORE: Amazon workers protest over 35p pay rise

“We are delighted to have opened the doors of our first fulfilment centre in Dublin this week,” the company said in a statement.

“We are focusing on welcoming our new team and preparing the site in readiness to start delivering to our customers across Ireland.”

Recruitment is underway, with employee wages expected to begin at €13.50 an hour.

The long-promised distribution centre will improve delivery times for Irish Amazon customers and add to the company’s prsence in the country.

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