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.
“When you have an employer who’s as committed to remaining union-free as Amazon is, even those relatively better labour laws are not sufficient,” he said.
Amazon has challenged multiple steps of the certification process at several warehouses in Canada.
It has been accused by unions of employing tactics to prevent workers from organizing, such as workplace messages and hiring sprees, which the company denies.
“Our employees have the right to choose to join a union or …