UK Amazon staff walk out in pay dispute

LONDON: Hundreds of workers at an Amazon warehouse in the UK downed tools Thursday in protest over a pay rise offer of 35 pence (41 euro cents, 42 US cents) per hour.

The GMB trade union said staff at the warehouse in Tilbury, south east England, are seeking a £2-an-hour rise to help them deal with the cost-of-living crisis, with inflation predicted to hit 13 percent later in the year.

“Amazon is one of the most profitable companies on the planet,” said Steve Garelick, GMB regional organiser.

“With household costs spiralling, the least they can do is offer decent pay.

“The image the company likes to project, and the reality for their workers, could not be more different. They need to drastically improve pay and working conditions,” he added.

A spokesman for the US retail giant said that starting pay for Amazon employees “will be increasing to a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45 per hour, depending on location. “This is for all full-time, part-time, seasonal and temporary roles in the UK,” he added. The action is the latest in widespread strikes across the UK, with train workers recently holding their biggest walkouts in three decades.