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A New Labor Unionism in Digital Taylorism? Explaining the First Cycle of Worker Contention at Amazon Logistics

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Digital Supply Chains and the Human Factor

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Logistics ((LNLO))

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the cycle of worker contention at Amazon logistics in Italy, explaining the link between digitalization in logistics and worker mobilization. In this case, workers’ collective action has shown the critical aspects of the Amazon model and its introduction of algorithms in delivery systems. The analysis of the mobilization is twofold. Focused on worker power, repertoire of action and claims, it explains on the one hand, how technology has affected working conditions and on the other hand, how worker organization triggered specific forms of unionism. While Amazon’s algorithmic innovation brings in what can be called a digital taylorism, this case of contention shows the forms of worker mobilization, which led to a critique of its implications and to new processes of unionization. Finally, the case disconfirms any determinism and shows how technological innovation can be negotiated as part of collective bargaining where the regulation of an employment relations system plays a central role.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    https://www.annualreports.com/Company/amazoncom-inccompany.

  2. 2.

    https://www.aboutamazon.it/centri-di-distribuzione/investimenti-locali/investimenti-locali.

  3. 3.

    https://logistics.amazon.it/.

  4. 4.

    https://www.regione.lombardia.it/wps/portal/istituzionale/HP/lombardia-notizie/DettaglioNews/2018/06-giugno/18-24/e-commerce-imprese/e-commerce-imprese.

  5. 5.

    From a comparative perspective, Amazon arrives in Europa already in 1999 when it settles in Germany with the warehouse in Bad Hersfeld which remains the only one until 2006. The company plans afterwards a new expansion opening another nine plants in Germany. Also for geographic reasons, Germany is indeed the main logistic heart of Europe. Notwithstanding, Amazon is a company without unions until 2011 when the German union for the service sector Ver.di initiates a mobilization process and tries to unionize workers with the main goal to propose the recognition of the collective contract of trade [4, 10].

  6. 6.

    From the section “Frequently Asked Questions”, to the relative question “What are the juridical relations between Amazon and the drivers?”, from Amazon’s official website: https://logistics.amazon.it/.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scuola Normale Superiore, Florence, Italy

    Riccardo Emilio Chesta

Authors
  1. Riccardo Emilio Chesta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Riccardo Emilio Chesta .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chair for Production and Logistics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

    Matthias Klumpp

  2. Chair for Sociology, Institute of Education, Work and Society, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

    Caroline Ruiner

Appendices

Appendix and Sources

Media Coverage

Articles on the Newspaper «La Repubblica—Milano» Regarding Amazon Between 3.11.2015 and 25.02.2019

Interviews

  1. I1.

    Interview with Regional Secretary—FILT CGIL Lombardia, Milan, 13 March, 2019.

  2. I2.

    Interview with Amazon Driver—Milan, 18 March, 2019.

  3. I3.

    Interview with Amazon Driver—Milan, 18, March, 2019.

  4. I4.

    Interview with Amazon Driver—Milan, 18 March, 2019.

  5. I5.

    Interview with Amazon Driver—Milan, 18 March, 2019.

  6. I6.

    Interview with Amazon Driver—Milan, 15 April, 2019.

  7. I7.

    Interview with Trade Unionist—FILT CGIL, Milan, 27 September, 2019.

  8. I8.

    Interview with Amazon Driver—Milan, 28 September, 2019.

  9. I9.

    Interview with Amazon Driver—Milan 29 September, 2019.

  10. I10.

    Interview with Amazon Drivers—Milan, 29 September, 2019.

Non-participant Observations

  1. A1.

    Participation at Worker Assembly Buccinasco, Milan, 10 April, 2019.

  2. A2.

    Participation at Worker Assembly Toffetti, Milan, 9 April, 2019.

  3. A3.

    Participation at Worker Assembly Via Lombroso, Milan, 15 April, 2019.

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Chesta, R.E. (2021). A New Labor Unionism in Digital Taylorism? Explaining the First Cycle of Worker Contention at Amazon Logistics. In: Klumpp, M., Ruiner, C. (eds) Digital Supply Chains and the Human Factor. Lecture Notes in Logistics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58430-6_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58430-6_10

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