Amazon warehouse workers in the UK have described a pay rise offer of between 20p to 50p as “an insult”.

After recent strike action by employees at the e-commerce giant's Coventry fulfilment centre, on Wednesday the company put forward a pay increase offer averaging 1.8 to 2.5 per cent.

But trade union GMB, which represents the workers, said that with inflation rising and RPI reaching more than 12 per cent earlier in the year, its members have called for Amazon to “urgently sit down and talk pay”.

The organisation and its members are considering further strike action following the pay offer.

“Is this really what Amazon think’s we’re worth?” said Darren Westwood, Amazon worker and GMB member in Coventry. “This is another pay rise of pennies, from one of the world’s wealthiest companies.”

GMB said that the pay offer will come as “little reassurance” to Amazon workers around the world that are “struggling to make ends meet”.

“GMB members at Amazon Coventry are clear on their demands; £15 an hour and Amazon to sit down and talk pay with their workers union,” said Amanda Gearing, GMB senior organiser. “That is why they have been on strike and that is why GMB members will continue to fight for fair pay.”

Retail Systems has approached Amazon for comment.

The recent strike represented the first-ever industrial action faced by Amazon in the UK, with more than 500 GMB Union members deciding not to work between 13 and 17 March.

The pay offer comes days after Amazon announced intentions to eliminate 9,000 further roles in the next few weeks.

The retail giant previously laid off 18,000 employees in a cull which began last November.

In a letter to employees, Amazon chief executive Andrew Jassy said the latest round of terminations would mainly affect teams in Amazon Web Services, PXT, advertising, and Twitch.

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