250,000 Amazon workers get a raise
Amazon announced that all its US workers will get a raise to $15 from as low as $10 per hour. That will include more than 250,000 full time employees and 100,000 seasonal workers. The policy goes into effect Nov 1.
"We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead," Jeff Bezos, Amazon's chief executive, said in a statement. "We're excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us."
Beyond the US, Amazon announced it will pay 10.50 pounds an hour in London and 9.50 pounds in other parts of the UK.
Even more importantly, Amazon says it will begin advocating for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.
For the company, it's a powerful move to take the focus off its labor practices. It also adds to momentum for wages, which have been stagnant for 20 years.
