Amazon trial before Quebec labour tribunal starts Friday

A Quebec-based union says it has filed an application to represent hundreds of Amazon workers at a warehouse in the province. The Amazon DXT4 warehouse is seen in Laval, Que., Monday, April 22, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

After closing seven warehouses and laying off thousands of employees in Quebec last January, Amazon will be on trial before the province’s Labour Tribunal starting Friday.

The CSN union filed an appeal before the tribunal to overturn Amazon’s decision to close the centres and force the company to pay all 1,700 workers one year’s salary.

The union accuses the American multinational of evading its legal obligations and attempting to “eradicate” any union presence at the company.

Though Amazon closed its warehouses, it did not cease sales activities in the province and instead returned to a third-party delivery model.

The union says this violates the Labour Code and contradicts the business plan put forward by Amazon in recent years.

The last four delivery centres in Quebec, including the unionized DXT4 warehouse in Laval, were only established three years ago, the CSN points out. Those are needed for Amazon’s one-day delivery model.

Over the year leading up to the closure of the seven warehouses, Amazon workers at the DXT4 warehouse in Laval unionized and unionization campaigns were underway at the YUL2 warehouse in Lachine.

In August 2024, Quebec’s labour tribunal ordered Amazon to stop interfering in union affairs, and to pay the union a total of $30,000 in damages.

“It is clear to us that the closure of Amazon’s warehouses was primarily intended to curb the ongoing unionization campaign and the conclusion of a first collective agreement in North America,” said CSN President Caroline Senneville in a news release. “After numerous preliminary objections and other delaying tactics used by Amazon, the trial can now move forward. It is time for workers to obtain justice following these closures, which were illegal in several respects.”

In a written statement provided to CTV News, Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly said that, following a review of the company’s Quebec operations, returning to a third-party delivery model supported by local businesses “would allow us to provide the same great service and even more savings to our customers over the long run.”

“This decision wasn’t made lightly, and we provided impacted employees a package that includes up to 14 weeks’ pay after facilities closed and transitional benefits, like job placement resources. Throughout this process, we’ve complied and will continue to comply with all applicable federal and provincial laws,” the statement added.

The trial will open with testimony from the president of Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services, Jasmin Begagic, to explain how the closure of the distribution centres was a business decision with no connection to unionization efforts.