More than 800 Amazon employees who work at facilities in St. Peters and Sauget signed a petition demanding a pay increase to a minimum of $25 an hour and improved working conditions.
On Wednesday, 75 of them rallied outside of the company's St. Peters warehouse before delivering the petition to management.
About an hour later, Amazon released information about a pay raise nationally that would increase the base wage to more than $22 an hour.
“This is part of an annual process where we review our wages and benefits to ensure they stay competitive — and in many cases industry-leading — and I’m proud to say that this year is our biggest ever investment in our team,” Amazon Vice President Udit Madan wrote in an online announcement.
Local Amazon employees said that the $1.50-an-hour raise is a product of organized worker effort, but that it is not enough.
“Amazon will put their own spin on this raise, but we know nothing moves without the workers,” said Ash Judd, an employee at the St. Peters warehouse and organizing committee member. “We'll keep fighting until we reach $25."
Wages are not the only objection workers have to Amazon’s business practices.
They are asking Amazon to give performance-based bonuses, make cross-training and workshare programs optional instead of mandatory, end the practice of computer-generated write-ups of performance and stop using falling short of production goals, known as “making rate,” as a basis for disciplinary action.
“If you're not sweating,...
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