I think we should praise this move by Amazon, but also realize they're probably the world leader in warehouse robotics. If they raise wages, and push for wage increases now, there is a short term effect of reduced profits for Amazon, but it also puts pressure on raising costs for competitors while Amazon is on a path to being much better insulated from those costs. It also gives them better community relations basis when siting or expanding locations.

Is this cynical, or good move on the part of Amazon? A little of both. It is a smart long-term profit move for Amazon. But I would also say that overall would be great to spark a trend where companies compete via both smart capital investments to raise productivity, and being willing the share the benefit of rising productivity to employees as a tool against competitors.