Amazon warehouse workers in Laval now unionized

A Quebec-based union says its application to represent hundreds of Amazon.com Inc. workers at a warehouse in the province has been certified by the province’s Administrative Labour Tribunal.

The Confédération des syndicats nationaux says it’s the first time in Canada that employees have unionized at an Amazon warehouse.

However, the union says it expects Amazon to appeal the decision covering workers at the DXT4 warehouse in Laval.

The union says workers at the warehouse will hold their first general assembly to adopt a constitution and bylaws and elect representatives in the coming days.

It says the union will then launch a consultation with its members to prepare a list of contract demands.

“We believe it’s important for all employees to have their voices heard, but card check auto-certification does the opposite,” said Amazon spokesperson Barbara Agrait. “For example, if someone joins a union at a previous employer or before being hired by Amazon, the law assumes they want that union to represent them at any future employer – whether they actually want that or not.”

Agrait says she believes that everyone should have the right to get informed and vote based on their circumstances and beliefs.

“If a simple majority of people at an employer have joined a union at any point (whether while there or at a previous company), then there’s no vote and representation is automatic for all employees – including maybe dozens or hundreds of employees who didn’t even know it was being considered.”

The Confédération des syndicats nationaux represents 330,000 workers across a wide array of industries in Quebec and across Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2024.

This report was updated May 31, 2024 with a statement from Amazon.