The first date will coincide with separate strikes by teachers and as many as 100,000 civil servants who are also demanding higher pay in the face of double-digit inflation.

At a time when more consumers are embracing e-commerce and global manufacturers are still trying to catch up to demand, international shipping companies and ports continue to face labor shortages. 

Dr. Ella Washington, founder and chief executive officer of Ellavate Solutions and a professor of practice at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, discusses the state of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace today.

Warehouses face continuing headwinds from e-commerce demand and labor shortages. Automation has gradually gained acceptance as a way to improve efficiency throughout, while holding onto a finite workforce with better working conditions.

If 2022 made one thing clear, it’s that warehouses and distribution centers are the most critical link in the supply chain. Manufacturers and retailers alike rely on efficient warehouses to keep inventory moving, track goods accurately, and fulfill orders quickly.  

The online retailer also said it planned to open two new centers, creating 2,500 jobs over the next three years.

The government has so far refused to offer pay hikes for public sector workers beyond the levels suggested by pay review bodies that it says are independent.

The annual rate of inflation is still running well ahead of wage gains, but the Fed has argued that a tight labor market has led to inflation-fueling income gains.

The legislation would allow employers to fire striking workers in essential sectors and sue trade unions if they fail to provide a minimum level of service.

The job cuts represent a swift about-turn for the retailer that recently doubled its basic pay ceiling to compete more aggressively for talent.