Company also introducing employee discount for grocery, ‘daily essentials’
Amazon is investing more than $78 million in pay increases for its Canada operations employees, raising its average hourly base wage to $26.27 effective Sept. 27, the company has announced.
The increase, up from $25.27 in 2025, represents a 4% year-over-year rise. Amazon said full-time operations employees working 40 hours a week would earn more than $54,000 annually on average based on the new rate.
Unifor, the union representing workers at Amazon's Metro Vancouver warehouse, said the announcement coincides closely with the end of a mediation process ordered by the British Columbia Labour Relations Board.
The British Columbia Labour Relations Board ruled that Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services must settle its first collective agreement with Unifor, Local 114 through binding arbitration.
The union said Amazon was "feeling the heat" of the contract soon to be awarded to workers at the facility.
“It's about time Amazon recognizes that if they want to operate in Canada, they will do it while respecting the rights of the very workers they employ,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Pay structure and grocery discount
Beyond the base hourly rate, Amazon's step plan compensation model gives eligible hourly full- and part-time employees planned pay increases every six months until their 24-month anniversary, with an additional increase at month 36.
Starting Oct. 1, Amazon is introducing an Employee Grocery and Daily Essentials Discount for eligible employees in Canada, including full-time, part-time, seasonal and corporate staff. Eligible employees will receive 10% off online grocery and daily essentials purchases on Amazon.ca, with no cap on savings. The discount covers categories including pantry items, snacks and beverages, health and personal care products, household essentials, beauty items, baby items and pet products.
"We remain committed to ensuring they have the wages, benefits, and career development opportunities they need to succeed and grow — and this is how we deliver on that,” said Jasmin Begagic, director of AMZL Canada.
Amazon has faced controversy for its return-to-office (RTO) mandate, with an internal dashboard allowing managers to closely track the movements of corporate employees.
Existing benefits
For regular full-time Canada operations employees, benefits begin on the first day of employment include extended health, dental and vision coverage; a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) with an employer-matched deferred profit sharing; and a Prime membership at no additional cost after 90 days, according to the company’s latest announcement.
A Career Choice program pre-pays tuition, up to an annual maximum, toward a certificate or diploma in select fields after 90 days of employment, with language courses available from an employee's first day. Fourteen educational institutions across Canada partner with the program, which has enrolled more than 13,500 employees in Canada since launching in 2014.
