Amazon boosts wages for area Whole Foods, Amazon workers

Employees at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Monroe will make at least $15 per hour. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Employees at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Monroe will make at least $15 per hour. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Amazon announced this morning that it would raise the minimum wages of all part- and full-time United States employees to $15 per hour.

The wage jump affects more than 250,000 Amazon employees and 100,000 season holiday employees. It will go into effect Nov. 1, according to a release.

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Local Whole Foods Market employees and other Amazon subsidiaries will see the increase, including employees at the Whole Foods stores at 1050 Miamisburg Centerville Road in Dayton and the stores in Mason, Cincinnati and Columbus.

There are Amazon warehouses in Hebron, Kentucky and Fairfield, as well as a fulfillment center in Monroe, where employees will also make a minimum $15 per hour.

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The announcement comes after Amazon and CEO Jeff Bezo have come under fire from people who say Amaozon pays unlivable wages while CEO Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world, worth more than $150 billion.

“We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead,” Bezos said. “We’re excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us.”

Amazon’s public policy team will also begin advocating for a higher federal minimum wage, a company statement said.

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