A TRADE union has opened a “confidential whistle-blowing hotline” designed specifically for Amazon workers — including those in Cumbria.

The online shopping giant opened a delivery centre at the Woodlands Industrial Estate near Longtown last year, employing 20 people whose numbers were boosted over the festive period by about 100 extra staff.

The firm also has sites across the North West including, Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, St Helens, Warrington, and Preston.

The Unite union has today launched a national advertising campaign to encourage Amazon workers to complain if they feel it necessary about their treatment, pointing out that they are legally entitled to have support from a union.

The union highlights recent reports of ‘poor working conditions’ for Amazon workers, who they say have played a key role in keeping the nation supplied with goods during the Covid crisis.

Founder Jeff Bezos is now ranked the world’s richest man.

But, the union says Amazon has frustrated attempts by workers to gain a collective voice of their own. It refuses to sign up to either the United Nations Global Compact or the Ethical Trading Initiative – bodies that recognise the right of all workers to a collective voice through a union.

The union wants Mr Bezos to sign up to a ‘new deal’, including commitments that recognise workers’ right to unionise.

Unite executive officer Sharon Graham said: “Unite has opened a confidential hotline for Amazon workers in Cumbria to blow the whistle on poor treatment and working practices.

“Amazon attacks all attempts by workers to gain a collective voice of their own. This is why Unite is launching ‘Action on Amazon’ to give Amazon workers a voice, so they don’t have to rely on whistle-blowing or calling confidential hotlines.

“Jeff Bezos has become the world’s richest man off the backs of workers who have played a crucial part in so many people’s lives during the pandemic. It is prime time Amazon gave workers in Cumbria the right to be in a union and to do so without interference, bullying and intimidation.”

Earlier this year, the News & Star spoke to Amazon’s staff at the Longtown centre.

Station manager Mervyn Beacom said “incredible people” came together daily to deliver for customers. “It’s a great place to work with highly competitive pay, benefits from day one and training programmes for in-demand jobs,” he said.

A spokeman for Amazon said: A TRADE union has opened a “confidential whistle-blowing hotline” designed specifically for Amazon workers — including those in Cumbria.

The online shopping giant opened a delivery centre at the Woodlands Industrial Estate near Longtown last year, employing 20 people whose numbers were boosted over the festive period by about 100 extra staff.

The firm also has sites across the North West including, Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, St Helens, Warrington, and Preston.

The Unite union has today launched a national advertising campaign to encourage Amazon workers to complain if they feel it necessary about their treatment, pointing out that they are legally entitled to have support from a union.

The union highlights recent reports of ‘poor working conditions’ for Amazon workers, who they say have played a key role in keeping the nation supplied with goods during the Covid crisis.

Founder Jeff Bezos is now ranked the world’s richest man.

But, the union says Amazon has frustrated attempts by workers to gain a collective voice of their own. It refuses to sign up to either the United Nations Global Compact or the Ethical Trading Initiative – bodies that recognise the right of all workers to a collective voice through a union.

The union wants Mr Bezos to sign up to a ‘new deal’, including commitments that recognise workers’ right to unionise.

Unite executive officer Sharon Graham said: “Unite has opened a confidential hotline for Amazon workers in Cumbria to blow the whistle on poor treatment and working practices.

“Amazon attacks all attempts by workers to gain a collective voice of their own. This is why Unite is launching ‘Action on Amazon’ to give Amazon workers a voice, so they don’t have to rely on whistle-blowing or calling confidential hotlines.

“Jeff Bezos has become the world’s richest man off the backs of workers who have played a crucial part in so many people’s lives during the pandemic.

"It's prime time Amazon gave workers in Cumbria the right to be in a union and to do so without interference, bullying and intimidation.”

Earlier this year, the News & Star spoke to Amazon’s staff at the Longtown centre.

Station manager Mervyn Beacom said “incredible people” came together daily to deliver for customers. “It’s a great place to work with highly competitive pay, benefits from day one and training programmes for in-demand jobs,” he said.

An Amazon spokesman said: “The fact is we already offer our employees excellent pay, excellent benefits and excellent opportunities for career growth, all while working in a safe, modern work environment.

"Our competitive wages start at £9.70 or £10.80 per hour depending on location, and we’d encourage anyone to compare this to the wages and benefits offered by other retailers.

"We’re proud to have created 10,000 new permanent roles across the UK in 2020, taking our total permanent UK workforce to more than 40,000.

"Our people have played a critical role in serving customers in these unprecedented times and the new roles help us continue to meet customer demand and support small and medium sized businesses selling on Amazon."

* The union’s hotline number is 08000 141 461 or you can visit https://actiononamazon.org/hotline/