Unifor launches union drive at Amazon’s Vancouver sites

Unifor has announced it plans to start a drive at Amazon’s Metro Vancouver locations.

U.S. activist and Amazon Labor Union (ALU) president Chris Smalls joined Unifor organizers at the launch event near YVR3, the fulfillment centre near Braid Skytrain Station in New Westminster. He emphasized the need to foster community and build meaningful connections between workers.

“The union shows the power of the people, bringing them together, helping them with their real concerns at work,” Smalls said. “Amazon can never do that. They’re in the business of exploiting workers for profit.”

Numerous attempts have been made to unionize Amazon’s warehouse operations in Canada. In May 2022 the Confederation des syndicats nationaux (CSN) tried to organize at Amazon in Montreal. In April 2022 Teamsters Local Union 362 filed a second time for a unionization vote at the Amazon warehouse in Nisku, south of Edmonton.

Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle was present at the launch to support the organizing team.

“It’s time to turn things around in the warehouse industry, workers can do it together. The ALU already showed us what is possible at Amazon. It doesn’t matter how big your company is: workers everywhere deserve the benefits and protections of a union,” said McGarrigle.

Lana Payne, Unifor National President said that joining the union will allow Amazon workers to “push this notoriously difficult employer to improve working conditions.” said.

“They took risks during COVID-19 to ensure millions of us could stay home and get key deliveries on time. It’s time they get the chance to benefit from a solid, enforceable collective agreement.”

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.