Reported today on City AM
For the full article visit:
Where could be a better place to witness the behind-the-scenes impact of Black Friday than at the heart of Amazon’s UK warehouse operations?Some of the credit – or perhaps, blame – for the annual shopping event’s popularity in Britain surely lies with the US e-commerce giant. The fulfilment centre – which is the size of 28 football pitches – looms into view on the approach from Tilbury Town train station in Essex.Read more: Black Friday deals found to be cheaper at other times of yearLCY2, named after the nearby London City Airport, is the largest Amazon fulfilment centre in Europe and employs around 2,500 permanent members of staff – bolstered by 1,500 seasonal employees during the peak trading period. For Amazon that period is now as it ramps up its operations for Black Friday and Cyber Monday to continue all the way through to Christmas. Working conditions at AmazonIt becomes clear early on that my tour guide is on a charm offensive to battle allegations of poor working conditions at the warehouse, particularly ahead of planned GMB union protests outside several Amazon warehouses on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Toilets are pointed out with enthusiasm. “Look,” I’m told, “there is no need for employees to be forced to urinate in plastic bottles [as was previously reported by an undercover journalist] – there are toilets everywhere!” Read more: Black Friday 2019: How to find the best bargainsApparently the most common complaints among employees are the quality of the free coffee and the choice of background music – though it can barely be heard over the hum of parcels being passed between various robots, not gruelling targets or timed toilet breaks. “We don’t have anything to hide,” Tilbury operations manager Sertac Yilmaz tells me.The company has insisted it offers a