Some good news, for once: according to CNN, Amazon is raising its minimum wage to $15 for every single one of its US employees.
“The change takes effect November 1 and… will benefit more than 250,000 Amazon employees, plus 100,000 seasonal workers,” as well as “Whole Foods and all other subsidiary employees.”
“We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead,” Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and CEO (and WORLD’S RICHEST MAN), said. “We’re excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us.”
If giving hundreds of thousands of Americans a raise wasn’t enough — seriously though, that is A LOT of people — Amazon also said that “its public policy team will begin lobbying for an increase in the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 an hour since 2009.”
As CNN noted, “The size and explosive growth of Amazon give the decision importance far beyond the… people who will benefit directly,” as their entry into the Fight for $15 fray gives the movement serious gravitas.
Bernie Sanders, who has been one of Amazon’s most vocal opponents, and one of the Fight for $15’s biggest champions, shouted out Bezos after the announcement, saying “I want to congratulate Mr. Bezos for doing exactly the right thing,” and added that he looked forward to working with him to push for a $15 federal minimum.
Bezos thanked the senator, tweeting “We’re excited about this, and also hope others will join in.”
You can read more about it at CNN.
