The Labour Relations Board in British Columbia has ruled in favor of using binding arbitration to resolve a labor dispute between Amazon and its unionized workers at a warehouse in Metro Vancouver. The decision, issued by associate chair Andres Barker on Tuesday, mandates Amazon and Unifor, the workers’ union at the Delta, B.C. site, to finalize their initial collective agreement under the guidance of a single arbitrator. If the parties fail to agree on an arbitrator within seven days, the board will appoint one.
Earlier in June, Amazon had disputed the idea of arbitration proposed by a mediator, preferring to continue direct negotiations with Unifor, retaining the option of strike or lockout. In February, the board had determined that Amazon had breached the provincial labor code by omitting scheduled pay increases for unionized workers at the Delta warehouse. While Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the recent ruling, it had previously acknowledged the complexity of bargaining for a first contract and asserted its commitment to good-faith negotiations.
Unifor’s western regional director, Gavin McGarrigle, commended the board’s decision, condemning Amazon’s negotiating conduct, which the mediator identified as a key obstacle in reaching an agreement. McGarrigle criticized Amazon for perceiving unions as a threat to their workplace management practices and highlighted the importance of unions in empowering workers.