Many Americans rely on Black Friday as a day to get all—or a huge part of—their holiday shopping done, and also maybe treat themselves to something like reduced airfare to Europe. But with a Black Friday strike looming from Amazon, will that affect plans to get gifts done and get started on baking? Here’s what we know so far.
Why are there Black Friday strikes?
Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., plan to protest during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and in Germany, they’ll actually go on strike, according to NBC News. Termed “Make Amazon Pay,” these demonstrations draw attention to the company’s “labor abuses, environmental degradation and threats to democracy,” say organizers, the Swiss labor federation UNI Global Union, and activist group Progressive International. Protestors want the company to pay its taxes instead of taking advantage of tax breaks, allow workers to unionize, pay them fairly and ensure safe workspaces, and do a better job of running the company in an environmentally sustainable way. According to the Guardian, workers say that instead of working towards the goal of net zero emissions by 2040, Amazon’s carbon emissions have grown 34.5 percent since 2019.
Is this the first time there have been Black Friday strikes?
No, this is the fifth year, but previous strikes have occurred outside of the U.S. in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the U.K.
Could the U.S. be affected?
The U.S. is one of the countries where workers will be protesting. On Amazon’s website, the language hasn’t changed regarding the expectation that Prime members receive same-day or two-day delivery but with possible limited availability on high-volume days such as Black Friday. Currently, the company’s home page simply lists its own Black Friday deals. It’s not clear exactly how this will all play out and whether shipping and deliveries will continue as planned.