Amazon raises hourly wages for Canadian warehouse workers by $1
The $26.27 base wage for operations staff takes effect Sept. 27, weeks after B.C. labour board forced binding arbitration on the unionized Delta facility.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Amazon is raising its average hourly base wage in Canada to $26.27, a $1 increase from last year that represents 4 per cent growth. Full-time employees working 40 hours per week will earn more than $54,000 annually under the new rate, effective Sept. 27.
The announcement comes weeks after the British Columbia Labour Relations Board ordered binding arbitration to settle a dispute with unionized workers at Amazon's Delta warehouse. The board had earlier ruled that Amazon violated B.C.'s labour code by excluding unionized workers from scheduled pay increases given to other employees.
Uniform, which represents workers at the Metro Vancouver facility, said Amazon is "feeling the heat" of the contract soon to be awarded. Amazon had opposed the arbitration process, stating it wanted to continue direct negotiation with the union. The company also introduced a 10 per cent grocery and essentials discount on its Canadian website starting Oct. 1 for certain employees.
The timing of the wage increase closely follows the labour board's decision, though Amazon did not comment on any connection between the two.
The facts
How much does a full-time Amazon warehouse worker in Canada earn annually at the new rate?
A full-time employee working 40 hours per week at Amazon's new $26.27 base wage earns more than $54,000 annually.
What did the British Columbia Labour Relations Board rule about Amazon's pay practices?
The British Columbia Labour Relations Board ruled that Amazon violated B.C.'s labour code by excluding unionized workers from scheduled pay increases given to other employees, and ordered binding arbitration to settle the dispute.
