Amazon Boosts Starting Pay to $20 Per Hour Amid Labor Talks
Amazon has raised the minimum starting pay for its full-time employees to $20 per hour. The increase is part of the company's efforts to improve working conditions and benefits for its staff.
The new wage applies to core operations employees, and Amazon also announced a 10% discount on groceries ordered online through Amazon and Whole Foods, which increases to 20% when shopping in-store at Whole Foods. The company has also introduced a banking benefit, offering workers a membership in First Tech Federal Credit Union.
This move comes after several Amazon facilities went on strike last year, with the Teamsters union pushing for a labor agreement during a key shopping period. Amazon reached a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that requires the company to adopt corporate-wide ergonomic measures at its facilities across the country.