GMB has urged the government to give preferential treatment to companies that recognise trade unions when awarding public contracts. This demand follows revelations that Amazon, despite facing accusations of “union-busting” practices, secured £1 billion in government contracts.
During the Labour Party conference, GMB emphasised the importance of recognising unions and allowing them to engage with workers. Gary Smith, GMB’s general secretary, asserted that companies benefiting from government contracts, like Amazon, must treat their workers with respect, offering fair pay and better working conditions.
This call to action comes in the wake of a narrowly missed vote at Amazon’s Coventry distribution centre in July. Workers fell short by 28 votes from becoming the first site outside the US to compel Amazon to negotiate union terms. GMB is now challenging Amazon legally, accusing the firm of pressuring employees to revoke their union membership. These allegations are part of a broader pattern making it harder to achieve union recognition. Amazon, however, has denied these claims.
Data from Tussell, analysed by GMB, reveals that most of the £1.04 billion awarded to Amazon last year was allocated for cloud services. In response to these findings, the Labour government has pledged to simplify union recognition procedures, aiming to create a fairer balance of power between employers and unions.
Current regulations bar unions from reapplying for statutory recognition for three years if they fail to meet the required vote threshold. This policy has significant implications for union efforts to secure better conditions for workers.
Amazon maintains that it respects employees’ choices regarding union membership and emphasises that direct engagement with workers is integral to its culture.
As the debate over union recognition and workers’ rights continues, GMB’s push for prioritising union-friendly firms in government contracts marks a significant step towards improving labour conditions. The outcome of this call to action could reshape the future landscape of public procurement and union influence in the UK.
