Union could call for boycott of plans for Amazon site near Cleckheaton

It follows concerns about the numbers of jobs being touted around the Amazon site, and doubts that they will materialise.

Objectors to the scheme have expressed fears that the majority of jobs created will be low-skilled or unskilled.

Now the GMB union, which campaigns for improved terms and conditions for Amazon workers, says its “main thrust” will be to secure recognition and facility agreements with Amazon and to ensure the company adheres to the new West Yorkshire Fair Work Charter.

GMB’s senior organiser for Amazon in Yorkshire, Pete Davies, said the union will ask Kirklees Council to put as much pressure on Amazon as possible to ensure GMB is given access to recruit any workers the company employs “should this planned new investment go ahead”.

Last year planning officers on Kirklees Council said it was “acceptable in principle” due to the 1,500 jobs it would create. That number has since swelled to 2,400.

The plans are set to come back before committee over the summer.

Mr Davies said: “If Amazon is simply silent on these issues, we will take that as another attempt to bypass GMB.

"In that case, we will discourage the council from granting permission and support accordingly.”

The huge base, recently revealed to be a fulfilment centre, is set to occupy 59 acres of farmland between Whitehall Road, Whitechapel Road and junction 26 of the M62.

It has been described by critics as “absolutely monstrous” and equivalent in height to an eight-storey tower block and the length of three full-size football pitches side-by-side.

Since it first came to planning committee last May, the proposal has been compared to other Amazon sites where green fields have been bulldozed but the final schemes have failed to deliver on job numbers.

Among those who have spoken out is Batley and Spen MP Kim Leadbeater.

Before her election last year she dismissed the Amazon plan as “totally inappropriate” and said much-loved green spaces should not be “traded” for jobs.

That sentiment was partly echoed by Mr Davies, who said: “We understand and empathise with those who do not want to see these huge warehouses springing up in their areas.

“We agree we should not be encouraging multi-nationals to invest in West Yorkshire simply for the sake of unemployment figures and at any cost.

“But we are a trade union and our first priority has to be campaigning for improved opportunity for workers and better employment rights.”

Action group Save Our Spen says a new report to the council spelling out socio-economic benefits “paints a totally different picture to reality” in outlining projections of up to 2,400 jobs.

A spokesman said the group was “not against job creation” but added: “There is already a surplus of low-skilled distribution vacancies in the area.

"All the Amazon warehouse development will do is make the situation worse.”