‘A lot of health and safety issues’ as Amazon workers try to unionize

An Amazon facility in Laval, Quebec could become the first unionized Amazon warehouse in Canada, if the workers, and the union trying to represent them, are successful.

“Their working conditions are just horrible, a lot of health and safety issues out there,” alleges Caroline Senneville, president of The Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN). The Quebec-based union, which represents 330,000 workers in the province, filed an application with Quebec’s Administrative Labour Tribunal to represent about 200 employees at the DXT4 warehouse.

Senneville says the workplace is unhealthy, unsafe, and low paying, “and the pace they’re asked to work at is just incredible.” Senneville says workers are being asked to scan as many as 400 packages an hour, “and if you don’t go fast enough, they’ll tell you.” Senneville claims the pace and physical toll of the job has led to an environment where employees greet each other by asking “how’s your back?”

Canadian Occupational Safety received a statement from Amazon spokesperson Barabara Agrait addressing several allegations made by Senneville. The company says it does not require employees to meet fixed productivity speeds or targets.

“We have performance expectations for our team, but they’re based on how the team in a building is doing. In addition, our team has regularly scheduled breaks during the day, and are also able to take informal breaks to stretch, get water, use the restroom, or talk to a manager,” reads the statement.

Allegations of intimidation

But the safety issues go far beyond productivity targets, according to Senneville, who says workers also face intimidation tactics as a response to health and safety issues and in the effort to unionize.

“The employer does everything they can so that accidents are not reported to our health and safety board here in Quebec,” alleges Senneville, who also notes many employees are new Canadians who do not know their rights and can be easily taken advantage of.

In response, Agrait says, “the views of a few don’t reflect the vast majority of our employees, who overwhelmingly tell us in anonymous surveys that they feel they have a safe working environment - with a full 95% saying their managers are always looking for ways to make things even safer.” The statement is not clear if it is referring to Amazon employees across the entire company, or just those working at the facility in Laval.

CSN has also filed a complaint with Quebec’s labour board, Tribunal administrative du travail du Quebec, alleging interference in the unionization effort by Amazon management. Senneville says posters have been put up in the Laval facility warning workers to “be careful about what you sign.”  She also says company officials from the United States have met with employees individually to “discourage workers from joining a union.”

A potential first in Canada

There is only one Amazon warehouse in North America that has successfully unionized. It is in the Staten Island borough of New York City. Unifor has filed applications to represent workers at two warehouses in British Columbia, but so far, those efforts have been unsuccessful.

Agrait says Amazon employees “have the choice of whether or not to join a union. They always have.” The statement goes on to claim Amazon already provides what many unions are requesting when it comes to health, safety and pay. 

CSN says it expects to hear a response from Quebec’s labour board in the next few weeks. Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet issued a statement saying, “the workers’ choice, whatever it may be, must be respected.” He added it is up to the tribunal to ensure the certification process is followed correctly.