E-COMMERCE giant Amazon Australia has been hit with protests around the country, with what the Transport Workers Union says is the first stage of “escalating action” aimed at improving standards for tens of thousands of transport workers.
The company has hit back, however, accusing the union of painting “a misleading picture” of working for Amazon and that its drivers were “paid fairly and competitively”.
The protests occurred outside Amazon facilities in Melbourne CBD, at Kemps Creek in Sydney's west, at Lytton in Brisbane, Cavan in Adelaide and Jandakot in Perth.
According to the union, transport businesses, already on “razor-thin margins”, were now struggling to compete with Amazon’s model.
This so-called ‘Amazon Effect’ has been criticised by unions for allegedly accelerating a downward industry spiral, placing commercial pressure on transport operators to pressure drivers to work longer hours.
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said transport workers were saying “enough is enough”.
“They’re sending a warning not just to Amazon but to transport clients across the country,” Mr Kaine said.
“If they do not pay their fair share to the transport companies they hire to carry their goods, tens of thousands of transport workers will take necessary, protected strike action. We can’t accept foreign billionaires lining their pockets while fleecing workers.
“The message to Amazon and every outlier dragging this industry down is clear: it’s time to pay up for decent jobs and stop undercutting decent Australian businesses.”
Amazon Australia director of public policy, Michael Cooley, said the claims made by the TWU were false.
“Delivery drivers are paid fairly and competitively, including in accordance with prescribed government rates, for the time they spend delivering Amazon packages,” Mr Cooley said.
“The safety of drivers and the community is of the utmost importance, and we prioritise safeguarding them in every aspect of our operations.
“The fact is, Amazon is providing quality work for thousands of Australians across the country, including for those delivering packages to our customers.”