GMB Union Uncovers Soaring Public Funds to Amazon Amid Worker Struggles

  • Taxpayer money spent on Amazon hits ‘record-breaking’ £222m in 2022
  • GMB Union commissioned research reveals 69% increase from previous year
  • HMRC and Home Office top the list of public sector spenders
  • 99% of spending goes to Amazon Web Services
  • Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calls for terms and conditions on public procurement

According to a report commissioned by GMB Union, taxpayer money spent on Amazon reached a record-breaking £222m in 2022, marking a 69% increase from the previous year. The research, conducted by data provider Tussell, also revealed that Amazon has generated £684m in revenue from public funds since 2018. HMRC was the largest spender, accounting for 36% of Amazon’s public sector revenue with £228m spent over five years, followed by the Home Office at £189m. The findings highlight that 99% of identifiable spending went to Amazon Web Services, the company’s internet hosting arm. GMB General Secretary Gary Smith emphasized the need for contractual guarantees on worker pay, health and safety, and union recognition as taxpayer cash continues to flow to the private company.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about the amount of taxpayer money spent on Amazon and highlights the concerns regarding worker rights and conditions. It cites a credible source (Tussell) for its data and includes relevant quotes from GMB General Secretary Gary Smith.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about public spending on Amazon and highlights the issue of workers’ rights, but it could benefit from more in-depth analysis or contextualization of the data and potential solutions to address the problem.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: The report impacts public sector spending and potentially affects the revenue of Amazon as a company.
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the increase in taxpayer money spent on Amazon, which is a financial topic related to government spending and may have an impact on the company’s revenue.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the text.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk