GMB, one of Britain’s largest trade unions, is urging the government to favor companies that recognize trade unions when awarding public contracts.
The call comes after revelations that Amazon secured £1 billion in government contracts despite accusations of ‘union-busting’ practices.
At today’s Labor Party conference, GMB will push for companies that recognize unions and enable unions to engage with their employees about recognition to be given preferential treatment in public procurement procedures.
This follows a narrowly missed vote at Amazon’s Coventry distribution center in July, where workers came within 28 votes of becoming the first facility outside the US to force Amazon to negotiate union terms. GMB is now mounting a legal challenge against Amazon, accusing the company of pressuring workers to withdraw their union membership, making it harder to reach the threshold for union recognition. Amazon has denied the claims.
The majority of the £1.04 billion in contracts awarded to Amazon last year were for cloud services, according to Tussell data analyzed by GMB. GMB general secretary Gary Smith said that if Amazon wants to continue receiving such lucrative government contracts, it must start treating its workers with respect, which includes fair pay and better working conditions.
The Labor government has pledged to simplify trade union recognition procedures and give workers more rights, with the aim of creating a more balanced power dynamic between employers and unions. Current rules prevent unions from reapplying for legal recognition for three years if they do not meet the required voting threshold.
Amazon responded by saying that employees have always had the choice to join or not join a union and that direct engagement with employees is an important part of the company’s culture.