Amazon Faces Labour Tribunal Trial Over Warehouse Closures

UPDATE: Amazon is set to face a critical trial before the Quebec Labour Tribunal starting this Friday, following the controversial closure of seven warehouses that resulted in the layoff of 1,700 employees in January. The CSN union has launched a bold appeal, demanding the reversal of these closures and seeking compensation equivalent to one year’s salary for affected workers.

The union accuses Amazon of sidestepping its legal responsibilities and attempting to eliminate any union presence within the company. Despite shuttering its warehouses, Amazon has continued its sales operations in Quebec, shifting to a third-party delivery model, which the union claims contravenes the Labour Code and undermines the business framework previously established by the tech giant.

The last four delivery centers, including the unionized DXT4 warehouse in Laval, were instituted merely three years ago and are essential for Amazon’s ambitious one-day delivery service. The urgency of this case is heightened by the fact that unionization efforts were gaining ground at the DXT4 facility, while campaigns were underway at the YUL2 warehouse in Lachine prior to the closures.

In a significant development, the Quebec labour tribunal ruled in August 2024 that Amazon must cease its interference in union activities and pay the CSN a total of $30,000 in damages. CSN President Caroline Senneville stated, “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.”

The trial will commence with testimony from Jasmin Begagic, President of Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services, who is expected to argue that the warehouse closures were purely business-related and unrelated to union activities.

As this trial unfolds, the implications for Amazon and its workers in Quebec could be profound, impacting not just employment but also the future of labor rights within the company. The CSN insists that justice must be served for the workers affected by these closures, which they deem illegal on multiple fronts.

Stay tuned for more updates as this urgent legal battle progresses. The outcome could redefine labor relations for Amazon in Canada and set a precedent for future unionization efforts across the country.