By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The British Columbia Labour Relations Board has upheld its previous decision granting union certification to Unifor at an Amazon facility in Delta, B.C. The board found Amazon intentionally increased its employee roster to dilute union support during a membership drive, thereby manipulating the employee list to avoid certification. Despite Amazon’s claims of an operational need for additional staff, the panel ruled the company’s actions constituted interference with employees’ associational rights, justifying the remedial certification. Amazon plans to appeal the decision, while Unifor prepares to negotiate a collective agreement for the workers.
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Amazon’s bid to overturn a B.C. labour ruling granting unionization to its workers was ultimately rejected, and this seems to have stirred up a lot of feelings. It’s understandable, given the company’s well-documented history of resisting unionization efforts. It raises questions about their priorities: is their business model intrinsically dependent on maintaining a non-union workforce? The employees certainly deserve our support and good wishes as they navigate this challenging terrain.
The fact that Amazon sent a clear message by shutting down all Quebec warehouses when their employees unionized certainly casts a shadow over their intentions. This behavior, especially when contrasted with a more accommodating approach in places like Australia where unions are already established, paints a complex picture. Why the difference in strategy? Is it a matter of geography, labour laws, or something else entirely?
The B.C. Labour Relations Board appears to have seen through Amazon’s tactics, specifically pointing out what they viewed as deliberate manipulation of the employee list during the union membership drive. The board’s perspective, according to reports, was essentially: “Nice speech, Amazon, but your actions speak louder.” This reinforces the idea that actions speak louder than words.
It’s worth mentioning that some envision a future where AI-powered robots might take over for human workers. The idea of these robots forming a union of their own is a fascinating, albeit unlikely, scenario.
The discussion around the B.C. ruling and Amazon’s response inevitably highlights the challenges workers face. It also brings up the importance of considering sectoral unions rather than focusing solely on individual businesses or franchises.
The central question is whether this B.C. decision will set a precedent that other Canadian businesses will follow. Whether or not other businesses start to shift is something that remains to be seen. There’s also the open question of how long Amazon will stay in B.C. following the ruling. The sentiment is that maybe, treating your workforce with fairness would reduce the desire to unionize.
The core point of disagreement seems to be around workers’ rights, and whether they require external permission to unionize. Furthermore, several participants mentioned Amazon’s return policies, describing it as scammy and encouraging people to avoid buying from the company.
It’s undeniable that Amazon’s business practices have drawn criticism. The closing of the Quebec warehouses serves as a stark reminder of the company’s resistance to unionization. This event has caused boycotts, especially concerning Amazon Prime members.
The conversation also touches upon the complexities of Canadian labour law, which is primarily a provincial matter. This means Amazon could, in theory, circumvent provincial regulations by simply pulling its physical presence from a specific province. However, the geography of Canada makes this difficult. The distance from fulfillment centers outside of B.C. makes it very difficult to maintain same-day delivery, unlike the situation in Quebec.
There’s also a discussion about whether Amazon might have an issue with unionized workers in Australia, as has been reported. And it leads to a conversation about the impact of Amazon’s actions and labor practices, and if it is a factor in what drives customers away.
It’s important to consider who is actually in charge at Amazon. While Andy Jassy currently holds the CEO title, Jeff Bezos still exerts considerable influence. The executive chair of the board of directors isn’t just a figurehead; they still possess considerable control.