Retail giant Amazon face legal challenge over workers rights vote
49.5 per cent of the 2,600 workers who voted backed union recognition at the Midlands facility in July last year
Last updated 6th May 2025
Online retail giant Amazon are facing a legal challenge over a workers' rights vote.
The challenge is being brought in the lead up to a vote which took place at the company’s Coventry warehouse.
In total, 49.5 per cent of the 2,600 workers who voted backed union recognition at the Midlands facility in July last year, falling short by just 28 votes.
The result followed weeks of union-busting tactics at the Coventry site, where bosses bombarded workers with anti-union messages by company bosses, including multiple anti-union seminars.
Amazon now faces an outstanding legal challenge - known as an Inducement Claim – which begins at London Central Employment Tribunal today (May 6th).
Amanda Gearing, GMB Senior Organiser, said: “GMB members at Amazon Coventry were handful of votes away from winning historic union recognition.
“But they were up against a multi-billion-pound business who used all the dirty tricks they could to stop these workers having a voice.
“We believe it was not a fair fight and Amazon broke employment law.
“Today is the first step in the fight for justice for low paid Amazon workers.”
Last year, a spokesperson told us: "We want to thank everyone who voted in this ballot.
"Across Amazon, we place enormous value on engaging directly with our employees and having daily conversations with them.
"It's an essential part of our work culture. We value that direct relationship and so do our employees.
"This is why we've always worked hard to listen to them, act on their feedback, and invest heavily in great pay, benefits and skills development - all in a safe and inclusive workplace with excellent career opportunities. We look forward to continuing on that path with our team in Coventry."
And in an updated statement, an Amazon spokesperson said: “The recognition ballot was overseen by an independent third-party organisation appointed by the CAC (Central Arbitration Committee). The third-party organisation’s report contains no suggestion of any irregularities or unfairness. We are confident that a fair ballot process was followed.
“With an 86% turnout of those eligible to vote, the independent ballot result was a robust articulation of the collective voices of our colleagues at our site in Coventry.
“As part of the ballot process, the GMB had access to our site and employees, they held group and individual meetings on site with employees and were able to distribute leaflets to employees and communicate GMB messaging onsite using digital screens.”