First union contract for Amazon workers in North America imposed in B.C.

A union representing about 800 Amazon workers in Delta, B.C., says they are now covered by the first binding collective agreement for the retailing giant’s workers in North America.

Unifor and Amazon both say an independent arbitrator imposed the terms of the three-year deal on Friday.

Unifor says the agreement includes wage increases that bring hourly rates to $29 by its conclusion, enhanced severance protections and an additional week of vacation for workers with 10 years of service.

British Columbia’s Labour Relations Board ruled in August in favour of using binding arbitration to settle the labour dispute despite the e-commerce giant fighting the idea.

Union and company positions

Unifor national president Lana Payne said in a statement: “Amazon told everyone a union contract would never happen, but workers proved them wrong.”

Payne said Amazon “tried to convince workers that they were too big to organize and used their power and money to deter workers while making billions in profits.”

Amazon vice-president J. Ofori Agboka said in an online posting that the process was “improper, unfair and defies common sense,” and the company would take its concerns to court if necessary.

Agboka said union dues meant the workers “could actually take home less money than they did before.”

“Our associates weren’t allowed to vote on whether to accept it, which has become an unfortunate pattern with the British Columbia Labour Relations Board,” he said.

He added that Amazon believed the best workplace was “one where associates have direct input, and we work together to make progress quickly, and where nobody should have to pay dues or go through a third party to be heard.”

Why it matters

The deal is the first binding collective agreement for Amazon workers in North America. The arbitrator-imposed terms cover about 800 workers at the Delta, B.C., facility, and Amazon says it may challenge the process in court.

---

Sources

• ctvnews.ca: Union contract for Amazon workers imposed in B.C.
• thestar.com: First union contract for Amazon workers in North America is imposed in B.C.

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.