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Financial Post: Amazon closures a ‘slap in the face’ to Quebec workers, union says

Fiona Odlum — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 21:02:47 +0000

Adam King, assistant professor at the University of Manitoba’s labour studies program, said Canada’s provincial labour laws are “quite a bit stronger,” particularly in Quebec and British Columbia, compared to the federal framework in the United States, where Amazon has been accused of trying to stymie unionization efforts.

“Some of the things that Amazon is widely known to do, they can’t do in Canada and particularly in Quebec,” he said. “For example, in the United States, they force workers into what are called captive audience meetings, where they make them attend these mandatory meetings where they tell them all the things that are wrong with unionization and why they shouldn’t. You can’t do that in Canada.”

To read the entire article, please follow the link to Financial Post.

The Canadian Press: Unions face uphill battle organizing Amazon warehouses in Canada: experts

Fiona Odlum — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:01:11 +0000

Unions trying to organize at Amazon workplaces across Canada are facing a series of hurdles, including legal challenges and alleged anti-union tactics from the e-commerce giant.

Labour laws in Canada are generally stronger than those south of the border, where unions also face an uphill battle, experts say.

But Adam King, an assistant professor in the labour studies department at the University of Manitoba, says that isn’t enough to guarantee successful unionization efforts here.

To read the full story, please visit The Toronto Star.

CBC News: Many workers hit the picket line in 2023. These 5 charts help contextualize a year of strikes

Fiona Odlum — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:39:53 +0000

As for this year, many unionized workers have seen their purchasing power decline and they’re looking to make up for lost time, said Jesse Hajer, acting coordinator of the labour studies program at the University of Manitoba.

“Labour markets have also been tight, giving workers greater bargaining power, making them more willing to go on strike and to stay on strike longer,” Hajer said. “Generally, they have been getting results.”