Amazon raising pay, offering free Prime to warehouse workers

(NewsNation) — The people who fill boxes with Amazon purchases, as well as the people who deliver those boxes, are getting raises and some extra perks.

Amazon said the $1.50 an hour pay hikes will bring the average base pay for warehouse workers and delivery drivers to more than $22 an hour. Amazon is also kicking in free Prime memberships, valued at $139 a year.

“I’m proud to say that this year is our biggest ever investment in our team,” said Udit Madan, vice president of Amazon Worldwide Operations, in a post announcing the changes. “It’s one of the many ways that we say thank you for all the work that they do to support our customers and communities.”

Madan’s statement announced a few other compensation changes, including more flexible scheduling, more choices in the employee education program known as Career Choice and the elimination of the 90-day requirement before new workers are eligible for those benefits.

The pay raise and enhanced benefits come as some Amazon workers try to unionize. Two years ago, warehouse workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to unionize but have yet to win a contract. Earlier this week, Amazon drivers in New York City voted to join the Teamsters Union. In June, New York City warehouse workers overwhelmingly voted for a Teamsters alliance.

But in July, warehouse workers at an Amazon facility in Coventry, England, narrowly rejected unionizing.

Other retailers have recently announced pay increases for some of their workers as well, including Sam’s Club and Aldi.