Workers can form union at Amazon warehouse in Laval, Que., a first in Canada

Quebec's labour tribunal has given union accreditation to workers at an Amazon warehouse in Laval, Que., a first in Canada.  

Workers at the DXT4 warehouse, located in Laval, a suburb north of Montreal, had been working toward unionizing with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) for two years.

The CSN filed an application with Quebec's Administrative Labour Tribunal on April 19 to represent some 200 employees. The decision came down Friday.

Caroline Senneville, the CSN's president, said employees were dissatisfied with what they described as a hectic work pace, low wages, and inadequate health and safety measures.

She called the move "an important first step."

"These are people who really need to improve their working conditions. Amazon is a multinational company … there are ways to make sure those who work for it aren't jeopardizing their health, that their labour isn't considered disposable," said Senneville.

"It's a model that exploits vulnerable workers since many of them are immigrants."

Amazon has previously stated that the company does not require employees to meet fixed productivity targets. It has also said it provides safe and inclusive workplaces, competitive pay, health benefits and opportunities for career growth.

The majority of the workers at the Laval warehouse signed union cards, which cemented the union's accreditation. 

According to Quebec law, the labour tribunal must certify a union even if the employer refuses to agree to part of the bargaining unit if a majority of workers want to be unionized.

According to the tribunal ruling, Amazon had requested one group of employees not be excluded from the accreditation. Senneville said the employees were largely supervisors who had not signed union cards.

In the end, because the majority voted in favour of a union, about 10 more employees than the union expected can be represented by the CSN, said Senneville.

Before the labour tribunal's decision was even rendered, Amazon said it would contest any decision approving the union. A hearing has been set for June 10.

In a letter sent to the labour tribunal on May 6, Amazon said it could not back the accreditation because it "does not respect the interests of its employees." It claimed that some employees were misled to sign union cards.