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Amazon Wins Over £1B in Public Sector Contracts While Linked to Union Trouble
In a twist that’s hotter than a server room in July, Amazon snagged more than £1 billion in public sector deals over the last year. Despite that, the company’s reputation is in patchwork, thanks to a legal spat over alleged union‑busting moves.
Contract Breakdown
- Home Office:
£450 million(online hosting gig) - HMRC:
£350 million(digital tax services) - DWP:
£200 million(social benefits platform) - MOJ:
£194 million(judicial tech solutions)
In total, £1.04 billion of public money went to Amazon over 12 months ending September, a victory lap that looks less glamorous when you factor in the union drama.
GMB’s Bold Move
GMB is pulling a political stunt: a motion will hit the Labour conference today. The motion is built on data hand‑coded from Tussell and points to Amazon’s behaviour over union recognition.
Key points:
- Amazon’s original bid to block a worker vote on union recognition was decided by a razor‑thin marginal loss.
- ~1,500 GMB members camped out, striking a patchwork of cakes, tea, and anger between early‑morning raids on the Coventry warehouse.
- They’re not just after a union; they want £15 per hour and a workplace that stops the “surveillance treadmill” that apparently saps morale.
- The motion argues that firms giving their workforce a voice should “win favour” when public bodies decide on contracts.
Gary Smith’s Take
“If Amazon wants to keep cozying up to taxpayer cash, they’ve got to treat the folks who keep the lights on with respect,” said GMB General Secretary Gary Smith. “No more punishing workloads or creepy surveillance. Listen – banks on your union presence and we’ll chew the cost of your public deals.”
Underlying this is a call for sweeping reforms that finally abolish outdated anti‑union laws, letting workers actually have a say.
Wrap‑Up For The Day
With the motion on the agenda, GMB hopes to flip the loyalty scales in its favour. If Amazon can prove it respects the workers’ voice, perhaps the next public contract will bear a lighter price tag on the spotlight rigour.
