Amazon Japan Axes Unionized Delivery Staff Following Strike

Unionized labor members who participated in a strike in March to protest the termination of their contracts as delivery workers for Amazon Japan in Nagasaki and other regions have been terminated from their positions, reported Takehiro Higuchi for Mainichi Japan.

Despite the union's collective negotiation request to secure continued employment, the request was rejected by the primary subcontractor, citing no legal obligation. I Photo: Takashi Hososhima Wikimedia Commons

A representative from the Nagasaki branch of the Tokyo Union Amazon delivery workers' labor union expressed disappointment, stating, "Despite our diligent efforts in transporting packages, it's disheartening to end up in this situation."

The primary subcontractor, headquartered in Yokohama, issued a termination notice to the secondary subcontractor in December 2023, terminating their contract on April 8, 2024.

Despite the union's collective negotiation request to secure continued employment, the request was rejected by the primary subcontractor, citing no legal obligation.

On March 8, the union staged a strike, one month before the contract termination. Despite a lack of response from Amazon Japan headquarters to the union's plea for assistance to secure job opportunities, the affected workers continued to fulfill their duties until their last day.

One worker, on his final day despite rainy conditions, delivered approximately 190 packages from morning till night, expressing frustration at the loss of employment despite the union's track record of accuracy and customer satisfaction.