Union calls 1-day strike at Amazon Germany

Union calls third 1-day strike at Amazon Germany in dispute over pay

BERLIN (AP) -- Workers at online retailer Amazon's German operations are staging a third one-day strike over pay.

Union ver.di called on staff at Amazon's distribution centers in Leipzig and Bad Hersfeld to cease work Monday in a bid for higher wages and better benefits.

The union says Amazon's roughly 5,300 workers at the sites receive less than their peers in the online retail industry.

It says starting salaries at the two distribution centers currently range between €9.30 and €9.83 ($12.10 to $12.78) an hour.

Amazon has countered that the staff are performing mainly logistical work and should therefore receive pay levels appropriate for that industry.