The Amazon warehouse in Dunfermline has been blockaded by Extinction Rebellion activists on one of the delivery giant’s busiest days of the year.
Activists from the climate group arrived at the warehouse in Fife shortly at around 4am, blocking a number of entrances.
The group is blocking the entrances using lock-ons and banners with the words “make Amazon pay” and “climate justice = workers’ justice”.
The blockade is part of an international action by Extinction Rebellion targeting 15 Amazon fulfilment centres in the UK, US, Germany, and the Netherlands.
It comes during one of Amazon’s busiest days of the year, with customers taking advantage of Black Friday offers in the run up to Christmas.
Amazon said it was working to minimise disruption to customers.
Managers at the 1.5 million sq ft site told The Courier they expected to be shipping hundreds of thousands of items in the next few weeks.
Orders are packed and dispatched at the warehouse for delivery right across the UK.
Pictures from the scene showed activists at the Dunfermline fulfilment centre, Amazon’s third-biggest warehouse in the UK.
The era of exploitative throw-away capitalism will soon be over.”
Eleanor Harris, Extinction Rebellion
Eleanor Harris, an Extinction Rebellion activist from Glasgow, said: “It is essential we move to a new model of economics that prioritises wellbeing and sustainability over profit.”
The group say they want to draw attention to Amazon’s practices, which they say are exploitative, and its contribution to “throw-away” capitalism.
“The era of exploitative throw-away capitalism will soon be over, either by changing to meet the challenges we now face or by the destruction of our global habitats and societies,” Ms Harris added.
A spokesperson for the delivery giant said: “At Amazon, we take our responsibilities very seriously.
“That includes our commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement – providing excellent pay and benefits in a safe and modern work environment, and supporting the tens of thousands of British small businesses who sell on our store.
“We know there is always more to do, and we’ll continue to invent and invest on behalf of our employees, customers, small businesses and communities in the UK.
“We’re proud to have invested £32bn in the UK since 2010, creating 10,000 new permanent jobs across the country this year alone, and generating a total UK tax contribution of £1.55bn in 2020.”
A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed officers were on scene at the protest.
She said: “We received a report of a protest taking place on Amazon Way, Dunfermline, on Friday November 26.
“Officers are currently in attendance and engaging with the protesters.”
