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Rayner urges Amazon to negotiate with GMB on pay or ‘government must step in’

LABOUR’S Angela Rayner has urged mega-rich Amazon to meet the GMB union and negotiate a decent wage rise for its workers after they staged walk-outs, sit-ins and go-slow protests against poor pay. 

The party’s deputy leader urged bosses at the US-owned online retail giant to work with the union to help employees through the most “profound cost-of-living crisis in a generation.”

Staff at Amazon sites nationwide, including Bristol, Doncaster, Swindon, Rugby, Coventry and in south-east London, held impromptu protests last week after bosses offered a pay rise amounting to just 35p an hour. 

The union, which said demos also disrupted the firm’s warehouses at Tilbury, Dartford and Rugeley, is calling for a £2-an-hour wage boost.

Ms Rayner said: “As a matter of urgency, Amazon must agree to talk with GMB and enter negotiations on pay.

“If they do not, the government must step in to ensure all sides get around the negotiating table.”

An Amazon spokesperson claimed: “We respect our employees’ right to join, form or not to join a union or other lawful organisation of their own selection.

“We place enormous value on having daily conversations with each associate and work to make sure direct engagement with our employees is a strong part of our work culture.

“Starting pay for employees will be increasing to a minimum of between £10.50 and £11.45 per hour, depending on location. Employees are [also] offered a comprehensive benefits package worth thousands annually.”

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