MORE than 3,000 Amazon workers began voting today on whether the online retail giant’s British arm should recognise a trade union for the first time.

Demonstrations took place at Amazon warehouses nationwide as workers at the company’s Coventry site began casting votes in the historic ballot.

It follows a three-week period in which union representatives were granted access to Amazon’s Coventry fulfilment centre by the government’s Central Arbitration Committee.

The GMB union has staged more than 30 days of strikes during a nearly two-year fight to overcome the firm’s reported union-busting tactics.

National secretary Andy Prendergast said: “GMB members face shocking levels of intimidation, fear and abuse at the hands of bosses for daring to fight.”

At the Coventry protest, one GMB member accused Amazon of keeping its workforce “oppressed.”

He said: “They are not aware of what rights they have. They are treated pretty badly.

“There’s so much money Amazon is making on a daily basis… By keeping the unions away, it can pretty much treat people how it wants.

“The conditions are not great. Health and safety is a big big issue — in lots of places there is a lot of accidents. There’s a lot mistreatment of staff [and] growing concern around mental health.

“If the GMB can get a foothold within Amazon, this will open the floodgates with regards to challenges … giving our employees, potential members, the protection they need in the workplace and they deserve.”

STUC deputy general secretary Dave Moxham said he was “proud” to stand with workers protesting at the Dunfermline depot.

“We sent our solidarity and support to those workers in Coventry balloting for recognition for each and every Amazon worker across the UK,” he said.

“Taking on Amazon is no mean feat, but GMB members across the country are leading the way.

“The company has a choice: they can continue to be obstructive to their workers or they can value them.”

TUC assistant general secretary Kate Bell was set to join Amazon workers and supporters at a separate rally outside Amazon’s London HQ as the Morning Star went to press.

The ballot runs until July 13, with the result expected two days later.

In order to be successful in forcing Amazon to recognise GMB, at least 40 per cent of employees in the bargaining unit, whether union members or not, must take part in the vote, with a majority of them backing recognition.

Amazon maintains that its employees have always had the choice of joining a union.

A Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) spokesman said: “We stand with and send solidarity to the brave workers at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse, who have begun voting in a historic trade union recognition ballot.

“Now Amazon workers, not Amazon bosses, will decide on union recognition.”