Amazon are to add an extra 1,500 seasonal workers at their Fife site in the run up to what is expected to the company’s “biggest ever Black Friday.”
However, the GMB union hit out at Amazon saying the “eye watering profits” the company makes from Black Friday means they should pay their workers more.
Amazon say they pay their workers “industry-leading pay” starting at £9.50 per hour along with benefits.
Graham Allison, general manager at Amazon’s Dunfermline site, told PA news agency, “We’ve had a really good prep in the run-up to Black Friday so we’re pretty well prepared.
“It’s just got bigger and bigger, but we’ve just got a bit more smoother as we’ve been more practised. A lot of time and effort has gone into prepping for this year.
“As the company’s grown, as we’ve offered more deals, really, we’ve just got more practice to getting people in, getting the shipments out on time. We’re pretty confident.
“We’re pretty big on site, 1.5m square feet, hiring more than 1,500 seasonal workers to help us cope with the run-up to Christmas. A lot of people coming in, got them trained, doing a good job and I’m sure we’ll be successful.
“We’ve got more than 1,200 [workers] all year round. The good thing for our experienced guys is they train, coach, help the new guys, welcome them in, just answer any questions and help them be successful.
“I think we’ve got very good at it over the years and our permanent team do a good job.”
However, GMB Scotland organiser Louise Gilmour said, “Amazon are well known as a mincing machine for human rights and employment rights.
“They will be generating eye-watering profits off the back of Black Friday, and the Christmas period and on the backs of their workforce, both permanent and seasonal.
“The employer has a charge list of exploitations the length of the Royal Mile, and this time of year in particular gives an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the practices of this employer.
“The billions of pounds of profits that Amazon generates means the consumer can have Black Friday, and Amazon at the same time can more than afford to pay the employees the living wage in decent terms and conditions many times over.”
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