Amazon Warehouse Workers Strike Over Unmet Wage Agreement in Pune

Pune, 11th February 2025: Workers at Amazon’s warehouse in Pune went on strike on Monday, protesting against the company and its contractor, Vaishali Transcarriers, for failing to implement a wage agreement signed three months ago. Veteran labor leader and Hamal Panchayat President Dr. Baba Adhav joined the protest, extending his support to the workers.

The demonstration, organized by Hamal Panchayat, took place outside Amazon’s warehouses in both Pune and Mumbai. The protesting workers, employed through Amazon’s contractor, alleged that they have been receiving lower wages for the past four years and are deprived of essential social security benefits. Despite repeated follow-ups with government authorities, the situation remained unchanged.

“The workers had reached an agreement with the company three months ago, with the involvement of the state labor department. However, the terms of the agreement have not been honored, leaving the workers without their rightful wages and benefits,” said Chandan Kumar, Policy and Legal Advisor of Hamal Panchayat.

During the protest, representatives from Vaishali Transcarriers and Amazon India visited the demonstration site and assured the workers that their demands would be met. However, Hamal Panchayat General Secretary Gorakh Mengde stated that Amazon has yet to take an official position on the matter.

“Wage agreements in India are formulated through discussions with workers, ensuring a fair resolution for both industry and employees. Amazon’s failure to honor an agreement reached through such a process is a violation of workers’ rights,” said Dr. Baba Adhav, condemning the company’s inaction.

According to Amazon officials, “All suppliers and third-party contractors associated with Amazon are required to ensure fair and legal wages for their employees as per our supply chain standards. Since we do not directly employ these workers, we are not responsible for their wages. However, we take such matters seriously and are conducting an investigation. Discussions with the concerned service provider are ongoing, and necessary steps are being taken to resolve the issue at the earliest.”