Amazon creating 500 ‘fulfilling’ jobs in the UK

Amazon is looking for 500 new minions in the Dunstable area. The online superstore is to open a new 310,000 sq ft "fulfilment centre".

Amazon’s “passion” and “customer obsession” means this is the ninth shipping warehouse centre in the UK. The eight others together employ more than 7,000 people.

Recruitment will be via local recruitment agencies as well as Amazon’s own website, although currently there are only 11 jobs listed on the website, including an IT Manager, a Site Engineering and Facilities Manager and a Controls Systems Engineer.

Permanent associates at the Dunstable base will start on £8.10 per hour and will receive stock grants after one year’s toil. According to the internet giant, its “popular” 10-hour shift pattern will allow staff three days off every week.

“Over the last two years, we have added well in excess of 2,000 new employees to our UK workforce,” said John Tagawa, Director of UK Operations at Amazon. “We look forward to our Dunstable centre playing an integral role in providing a first class shopping experience for customers across the UK.”

However, prospective applicants may wish to bear in mind that just four years ago low-paid Amazon workers in the US were hospitalised after being forced to work in hellish conditions.

Although none were kept in overnight, staff were subjected to temperatures of more than 38°C because Amazon had failed to install air conditioning at its warehouse in Pennsylvania, and had to be treated for heat-related problems.

Amazon had promised new recruits a “fun, past-paced warehouse environment”.

Meanwhile in Germany, labour union Verdi is involved in a long-running battle with the “one-click” seller. Verdi says Amazon is a retailer and that its staff should be paid appropriately.

The web behemoth argues that its warehouse staff are logistics workers and so not entitled to the higher rate. Strikes have been ongoing since 2013. ®