One's salary is one's compensation for one's labor.
Stock awards are a perk.
No employer is required to provide matching funds or stock awards with a 401k plan, and any employer can choose to discontinue such stock awards or matching funds at any time.
Employers cannot by law choose to discontinue compensating employees for work performed, so clearly matching funds and stock awards are not compensation since 401k-providing employers can discontinue them at any time without penalty or liability.
You are dismising what you call a "perk" as if it were inconsequential...on the order of a free burger. This particular "perk" is a benefit that has very real value. It's a form of compensation. It's not unusual for benefits to add another third in dollar value to one's salary.