WORKERS AT MAJOR BRITISH PACKAGING COMPANY VOTE TO STRIKE, COULD HAVE ‘SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS’ FOR COMPANIES LIKE AMAZON BEFORE HOLIDAY SEASON

Workers for DS Smith, the major British packaging group, voted to strike as soon as the end of November over their pay while inflation in the country soars. 

Andy Prendergast, the national secretary for the GMB union that represents 1,000 of these workers, told the UK’s Morning Advertiser that these workers sacrificed during the COVID-19 outbreak to help keep the business afloat and now it is time for the company to help these workers who face 10.1 percent inflation in September, which matches Britain’s 40-year high that was reached in September. 

“Workers at the company recognize that efforts with a decent paying offer that helps confront soaring inflation and eye watering energy bills in the months ahead, rather than hanging them out to dry,” he said. “DS Smith can afford to do better.”

Reuters noted that DS Smith, the London-based company, has benefited in 2022 from a surging demand for recyclable boxes and benefited from a boom in online shopping. The company specializes in packaging, paper, and recycling services, Reuters reported. 

The report said DS Smith expects adjusted operating profit of at least 400 million pounds ($443 million) for the half year to 31 October. Last year,  it pulled in 276 million pounds.

Any lasting strike could impact major retailers like Amazon who rely on packaging for their products. The timing could not be worse given that the holiday shopping season is about to go into full swing.

TRENDPOST: The Trends Journal has long reported that the COVID War brought on days of reckoning for governments and private companies around the globe when it comes to workers’ rights. The trend shows no signs of slowing as the world faces surging energy prices and soaring inflation. Strikes have impacted scores of industries. (See “TOP 2022 TREND: UNIONIZATION ON THE RISE.”)
As noted in the TRENDS-EYE VIEW in previous issues, the general workforce is no longer willing to settle for menial work at unlivable wages with no chance for growth. Pressures tied to inflation have only sped up this movement.