Amazon Employees Walkout after 35% Raise Offer in Salary
After being promised a 35p-per-hour wage boost, Amazon employees at a warehouse in Tilbury have decided to quit in protest.
Workers walked off the job last night and have continued to do so today, Thursday, August 4, in protest of the US tech giant, which had UK revenues of £23.2 billion in 2017.
Twitter videos depict Amazon employees sitting in the company cafeteria and refusing to work.
Regional GMB organizer Steve Garelick stated, “Amazon is one of the most profitable firms.” However, with rising living expenses, the least they can do is provide adequate compensation.
Amazon continues to refuse to collaborate with labor unions to improve worker conditions and wages. Their continuous use of short-term contracts is intended to erode worker protections.
The company’s desired image and the reality for its employees could not be more different. Therefore, they must significantly enhance compensation and working conditions.
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GMB reported that 800 employees left the warehouse on Wednesday and Thursday.
According to the GMB union, workers are demanding a $2 per hour increase to “better meet the demands of the role and cope with the cost of living.”
Amazon Employees promised an increase in salary
A spokeswoman for Amazon informed Metro.co.uk that starting pay for Amazon employees will increase to a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45 per hour, depending on the region. This includes all permanent, temporary, seasonal, and part-time positions in the United Kingdom.
In addition to competitive pay, Amazon offers employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, subsidized meals, and an employee discount, which are worth tens of thousands of dollars annually, in addition to a company pension plan.
Amazon in the United Kingdom employs nearly 75,000 people. However, in recent years there have been many reports of harsh working conditions, particularly for warehouse employees.
The company posted its second consecutive quarterly loss last week, but its revenue exceeded Wall Street’s estimates, resulting in a stock price increase.
Compared to last year’s profit of £6.4 billion, the corporation incurred a loss of £3.15 billion in the first quarter of this year and nearly £1.6 billion in the three months running up to June 30.
This is the company’s first quarterly deficit since 2015, but it still generated £99.5 billion in revenue.
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