Employer must also pay $30,000 in moral and punitive damages, says provincial tribunal
American multinational technology company Amazon has been ordered to stop interfering in the unionization efforts of its workers.
Quebec’s Administrative Labour Tribunal told the employer to refrain from making any statements or publishing any messages that have the purpose or effect of criticizing or denigrating the organizing campaign or questioning the usefulness of a union.
The employer must also pay the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) $10,000 in moral damages and $20,000 in punitive damages.
"This is an important victory for the right of all workers to freely join a union," said CSN vice-president David Bergeron-Cyr. "Even if they work for a giant like Amazon, Quebecers have a fundamental right to come together to negotiate their conditions of employment. Workers must not bow to anti-union fearmongering."
In May, the labour tribunal allowed about 200 workers at Amazon’s Laval warehouse in Quebec to unionize under CSN.
The tribunal also ordered Amazon to remove and destroy all the anti-union posters the company has put up at its facilities. Judge Henrik Ellefsen found that these messages "constitute warnings to employees about sensitive issues and are clearly likely to alarm them about the possible consequences of joining a union."
Amazon disagrees with tribunal
Amazon strongly disagrees with the tribunal’s findings concerning its communications with employees, said Amazon spokeswoman Barbara Agrait, according to a report from The Canadian Press posted on BNN Bloomberg.
The employer said it plans to challenge this part of the decision.
However, the company is pleased that the tribunal dismissed the claim that Amazon was threatening or intimidating employees in connection with the union organization effort, said Agrait.
Earlier this year, Unifor filed an unfair labour practice complaint against Amazon amid a vote by workers at a Delta, B.C., warehouse over whether they want to join the union, reported CTV News.
In April, Unifor said that unionization efforts at two Amazon fulfilment centres in Metro Vancouver will have to wait after it temporarily withdrew its application with the B.C. Labour Relations Board (BCLRB). The move came as Amazon provided a “suspiciously high number” of employees,” according to the union.
