08 December 2014
Many packages remain on Amazon in Bad Hersfeld are: Workers strike at Germany’s largest site of the US direct marketing company. Photo: AP
Now they strike again. The union Verdi reiterates its call for a walkout to the Internet retailer Amazon. Still refuses the management to negotiate a collective agreement for the approximately 9000 employees. We explain why Verdi carries on undaunted
Why the struggle for payment on Amazon runs on so long? enforce
For more than a year trying Verdi that workers in distribution centers, to be paid at the rates of shipping and retailing. Currently oriented wage to the logistics industry. The difference is partly several hundred euros per month. Amazon refuses categorically to get involved in the payment to the terms of a collective wage agreement.
Must Amazon customers now fear that Christmas packages do not arrive on time?
Hardly. On the Amazon home is currently reading: “On-time delivery for Christmas – guaranteed”. The company promises that even last-minute orders on 23 December and on Christmas Eve – admittedly an extra charge – are still delivered in good time
How is that despite. the strike possible?
Currently, the walkout applies only to the distribution center in Bad Hersfeld. As the single largest location in this country, there come seven now but more are being added. Packages can also be sent by offices in neighboring countries from. In addition, the degree of organization of the union is relatively low at Amazon. This also has to do with the fact that there are many workers on temporary sites. Further, in the run up to Christmas the local workforce is already almost doubled Season assistants, and then reaches around 20,000 people. In the weeks before the festival fast the Orders in height. On the German site up to 53 items per second were ordered last year.
Do the strikes then argues even have a chance of success?
Verdi that Amazon however the walkouts to feel get – by the timely delivery causes higher costs. In addition, it is clear that we need staying power in the enforcement of claims. Moreover, we have already achieved some concessions management in the past few months. This includes an – albeit modest – Christmas bonus.
Why Amazon fights so vehemently against collective agreements?
Amazon is pursuing a strategy in all its business areas leading to be. For this, the cost must be kept low in the traditional core business, the Internet Shipping. The expenses for personnel are vital. For in the dispatch centers of content packages to be still largely culled by hand – so-called pickers, which cover every day many kilometers in the warehouses. Amazon would engage in the collective agreement which would cost advantage over competitors lost.
Amazon dominates but online trading. Wen, the Group must still be afraid of?
In fact managed to Amazon, the Internet business with books, CDs or DVDs to dominate the market in particular. Amazon has achieved this with an extremely aggressive strategy. Gains were placed in recent years almost completely into the expansion – CEO Jeff Bezos takes for continuously losses. He also managed to continuously optimize the shipping trade and always build new distribution centers to shorten delivery times. But now the competitors have learned their lessons. The Otto-Versand about this country wants to build using the Collins project a kind of intelligent buying house for textiles. In the United States sits amongst the retail giant Wal-Mart Amazon in the neck. Google also plans to expand its activities in retail. Shopping on the internet is in Silicon Valley is currently the hot topic.
What could threaten Amazon?
Use electronic devices is changing rapidly. An example from Germany: Long time were Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader far forward. The Nuremberg GfK market researchers recently reported that, with a market share of 45 percent, now occupied by the German reader Tolino in the third quarter of the top spot. The Kindle devices have slipped to 39 percent. Behind Tolino are the German Telekom and several booksellers chains such as Thalia and Hugenhubel.
What role do smartphones and tablets when shopping on the Internet?
All Industry experts believe that in the future no longer with the PC on desk at home, but with mobile devices, ie smartphones and tablets is purchased, and indeed much more than before. Bezos has recognized this and made a few months ago the Fire Phone on the Market: A cell phone, the software is optimized for shopping. But the Fire Phone proved to be a huge flop, it is in this country now sold off by mobile network operators for 1 euro. Bezos was at a conference at the weekend that were sunk with the device billion.
How will it go with Amazon?
shareholders for years Bezos’ familiar risky course. But now the doubts grow. The Group has posted a loss of 455 million in the third quarter, which is the highest deficit for more than a decade. The share price has since its peak in January lost almost a quarter. Bezos wants nonetheless advance the development of hardware and software for shopping on. Another priority will be the development of concepts for even faster delivery using small drones.
What are the chances of success?
are open to doubt. Amazon’s opponents are no longer small booksellers, but powerful corporations that are also in a position to invest a lot of money. Google or the German postal develop drones for mail order. Observers see, however, in the Chinese online retailer Alibaba’s most powerful challenger. The currently working to enforce its own mobile operating system to simplify shopping with your smartphone – for the Chinese market, for now.
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