Amazon has said it does not anticipate having a cardboard box shortage, after reports suggested that potential strike action at a packaging manufacturer company could impact the online retail giant ahead of 'Black Friday'.
The Guardian reported that almost 700 GMB union members at corrugated packaging manufacturer DS Smith could walk out before the end of November. This could coincide with the last Friday of the month - known as Black Friday - which is one of the busiest times of the year for retailers as many choose to run promotions over this period.
DS Smith provides packaging for a number of famous firms such as drinks company Diageo, biscuit manufacturer McVitie's, brewer BrewDog and major online retail giant Amazon. A strike has the potential to cause huge disruption for the firms and their customers at a time when increased sales causes greater demand for packaging. But Amazon insists it does not expect any shortages.
An overwhelming majority (93 per cent) of GMB members at DS Smith voted to go on strike in response to the firm's pay offer, which the union branded a "real terms pay cut". Workers across the UK are feeling the effects of rising prices as official data showed inflation went over 10% in September - the highest it has been at for 40 years.
Employees at DS Smith were offered a 3 per cent wage increase in addition to a consolidated payment of £760 for next year. Staff at five of its factories in Louth, Lincolnshire; Featherstone in Yorkshire; Clay Cross in Derbyshire; Devizes in Wiltshire and Livingston in Scotland could participate in the industrial action.
Eamon O’Hearn, national secretary at GMB, said: “A strike at DS Smith could have serious implications across a range of household names – not least Amazon which gets packaging from the company. DS Smith can afford to do better – they need to table a serious offer that respects the contribution of our members, to nip this industrial action in the bud.”
A spokesperson for DS Smith told the Guardian: “Negotiations are ongoing with unions and we aim to find a solution that works for everybody. We take our customers’ needs extremely seriously and we have robust contingency plans in place to deliver the best possible service.”
An Amazon spokesperson said: “We do not anticipate any shortages and look forward to fulfilling customer orders on Black Friday."
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