AMAZON GIVETH & TAKETH AWAY

Workers’ dismay as they get pay rise and then LOSE the right to shares

AMAZON workers’ joy at news of a longawaited pay hike was short-lived after they were told they will lose their rights to shares in the company.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently announced the introduction of new criteria meaning low-wage employers would no longer qualify for state handouts.

Amazon owner Jeff Bezos – the richest man in the world – had previously refused to pay his staff the living wage of £8.75 an hour.

The company seemed to perform a U-turn on Tuesday, announcing that from November 1, the hourly rate for staff would rise to £9.50 an hour.

The move was warmly welcomed by the Scottish Government. But Amazon workers have been told the firm will stop issuing shares to them, worth between £1155 to £1400 a year, the day their wages rise.

Jim McCourt of Inverclyde Advice and Employment Rights Centre, said: “The wage rise was pretty much heralded but we support some of the workers in Gourock and they are really unhappy.

“They are basically paying for their own wage rise.”

Union boss Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, slammed Amazon, saying: “This is a basically a stealth tax by the employer on their own wage increase – a clear case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

The Scottish Government said they would use a planned meeting with Amazon bosses to raise workers’ concerns. It is understood they were unaware of the changes to employee schemes that Amazon plans to introduce.