Workers at an Amazon fulfillment center in Delta, British Columbia, have successfully obtained union certification following a ruling by the British Columbia Labour Relations Board. The board concluded that Amazon had engaged in unfair labor practices that obstructed the unionization process.
The union had initially sought certification for the facility last year, but the results of the vote were kept confidential due to a complaint filed by the union alleging that Amazon had increased hiring to weaken support for unionization. After 18 days of hearings, the board determined that Amazon’s extensive and intentional anti-union efforts had undermined the fairness of the voting process. Consequently, Unifor was granted certification through a remedial order due to employer misconduct compromising the vote’s integrity.
Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor’s western regional director, expressed satisfaction for the Amazon workers who had been advocating for collective bargaining rights and a fair collective agreement. Unifor’s initial application for union certification was submitted in April 2024 but was later withdrawn, with a subsequent application filed in May.
The Labor Board’s decision highlighted Amazon’s hiring of 148 new employees during a period overlapping with both certification attempts, alongside a concerted anti-union campaign that significantly impacted the unionization process. The board found that Amazon’s actions, including flooding workers with anti-union messages, violated British Columbia’s Labor Relations Code.
The certification of the Delta warehouse marks it as only the third Amazon facility in North America to unionize, following similar efforts in Staten Island, New York, in 2022 and Laval, Quebec, in 2024. Despite the success in Laval, where approximately 230 workers were unionized, Amazon closed all seven of its Quebec facilities in January 2025, citing cost-saving measures. McGarrigle acknowledged Amazon’s historical resistance to unions but expressed confidence in British Columbia’s robust labor protections.
Amazon has indicated its intent to appeal the decision, with spokesperson Kelly Nantel asserting that the board’s certification of the union deprived employees of their right to choose freely. The company plans to challenge the ruling on the grounds that it contradicts employee preferences and denies them the opportunity to express their views.
Mark Thompson, an expert in industrial relations at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, explained that the board’s decision is based on a provision of the B.C. Labor Code that allows for certification when a fair vote is jeopardized by a company’s actions. He cautioned that while certification is a significant step, the process of collective bargaining may be arduous and protracted, as seen with Amazon’s unionized workforce in Staten Island, which remains without a contract.
Overall, the certification of the Delta Amazon facility signifies a milestone in the unionization of Amazon sites, with the ongoing challenge of ensuring fair labor practices and collective bargaining for workers.
