Amazon workers in the UK are due to take further strike action after the ecommerce giant offered a 50p-an-hour increase in base pay for warehouse workers.

This means the minimum hourly rate of pay for warehouse workers will stand at £11, but employees have dismissed the pay rise as they continue to fight for a minimum of £15.

Amazon said the pay rise will be implemented this weekend and that the increase in pay is above the legal minimum wage for those aged 23 or over, which rises to £10.42 from April.

The GMB union has been supporting striking workers since the first walkout at the Coventry depot in January and a spokesperson recently told Retail Week that more strikes are to be expected if demands aren’t met.

GMB union senior organiser Amanda Gearing said: “We’re listening to Amazon workers and the message is very clear: this new pay rate is an insult.

“So, in response, we will be consulting over the next few days and announcing a new wave of action.”

GMB now has more than 500 members at the Coventry depot, and this is set to expand to others across the country as workers continue to ask for better pay and working conditions.

An Amazon spokesperson said: “We regularly review our pay to ensure we offer competitive wages and we’re pleased to be announcing another increase for our UK operations teams.”

“Over the past seven months our minimum pay has risen by 10% and by more than 37% since 2018.

“We also work hard to provide great benefits, a positive work environment and excellent career opportunities.

“These are just some of the reasons people want to come and work at Amazon, whether it’s their first job, a seasonal role or an opportunity for them to advance their career.”

The news of more strikes brings more misery for Amazon, as the company recently announced the closure of three UK warehouses as well as plans to axe 27,000 jobs globally.

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