There is good news for work campers and RVers that work seasonal jobs, especially in the Amazon warehouses during the holiday season. Amazon has just announced that they are raising the minimum wage for all U.S. employees to $15 an hour, reports CNN Money.
The change takes effect November 1 and applies to full-time, part-time and temporary workers. Amazon (AMZN) says the $15 minimum wage will benefit more than 250,000 Amazon employees, plus 100,000 seasonal workers.
“We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and CEO. “We’re excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us.”
The change applies to Whole Foods and all other subsidiary employees.
Amazon also said its public policy team will begin lobbying for an increase in the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 an hour since 2009.
“We’ll leave it to Congress and professionals to decide what the right number is,” Dave Clark, the company’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, told CNN’s Christine Romans. “But for us, that number is $15.”
The size and explosive growth of Amazon give the decision importance far beyond the hundreds of thousands of people who will benefit directly.
Amazon is among the largest employers in the United States, and it has added more American jobs in the past decade than any other company.
The decision also raises the stakes for potential workers at Amazon’s next headquarters. The company is planning to create a second headquarters, known as HQ2, with as many as 50,000 jobs. Amazon has named 20 cities as finalists, including Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Critics, including independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, have said that Amazon does not pay workers enough. They have drawn a contrast with Bezos’ spectacular wealth: He is the richest person alive, worth an estimated $165 billion.
“I want to give credit where credit is due,” Sanders said on Tuesday. “I want to congratulate Mr. Bezos for doing exactly the right thing.” He said he looked forward to working with Bezos to push for a $15 federal minimum.
Bezos responded by thanking the senator. “We’re excited about this, and also hope others will join in,” he wrote in a tweet.
To learn more or apply for a job at Amazon visit their CamperForce page.
Everyone thought it was great until Bezos took away their stock options and bonuses. Many employees are going to lose money.
You are correct Carol , it sounded like Amazon was doing a great thing but regular employees are actually losing money as a result. Whenever costs are raised anywhere within a business either other costs will be cut or prices will increase. Someone has to pay the piper. Bernie Sanders loves the idea but he doesn’t tell you about the down side.
This raise helps me and I am hearing from younger full time employees that they will be better off also. I am a seasonal Camperforce employee and this raise takes my hourly wage from $10.75 to $15.00 an hour and my campsite and $1.00 an hour bonus is still there. The final determination on stock options and bonuses for full time employees is still not determined yet. This is my seventh year working for Amazon and I would recommend it to all workampers who are not afraid of hard work and getting paid for it.