Amazon committee

Quebec Court Greenlights Explosive Class Action Against Abusive Work Permits

In a historic win for workers' rights, Quebec’s Superior Court has approved a lawsuit exposing Canada’s exploitative system of closed work permits. Temporary foreign workers, trapped under contracts with specific employers, are fighting back against conditions that trample on their most basic rights. Led by the Association for the Rights of Domestic and Agricultural Workers, the case alleges rampant violations of the Charter, including widespread abuse, underpayment, and harassment. This... Read more →

Amazon Workers in Quebec, Victory for Union Rights!

The Quebec Labour Tribunal has ruled in favor of the union at Amazon's Lachine distribution centre, ordering Amazon to pay $30,000 in damages for obstructing union efforts in May 2023. The tribunal found that Amazon's anti-union messages, spread throughout the workplace, violated workers' rights under Quebec Labour Code. This decision is a significant win for our right to organize and protect our working conditions. Remember, no matter how big the... Read more →
Félix et Denis, Syndicat des travailleurs d'Amazon

Towards a First Collective Agreement at Amazon

On July 23, 2024, a historic milestone was reached for the employees of the Amazon DXT4 warehouse in Laval, Quebec. The negotiation committee of the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs d'Amazon Laval–CSN presented a proposal for the first collective agreement to the employees. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the unionization efforts within the company. The employees of the Laval warehouse voted in favor of unionization in May 2024,... Read more →

Quebec strengthens measures to reduce accidents among foreign workers

In response to the increase in workplace accidents involving foreign workers, the Quebec government has recently announced additional funding to improve their safety at work. This initiative aims to enhance preventive measures and provide increased support to these vulnerable workers. According to statistics, the number of foreign workers injured on the job is constantly increasing. In response, Quebec is seeking solutions to improve the working conditions of these temporary employees,... Read more →

Unacceptable Working Conditions at Amazon: Workers Sound the Alarm Before Prime Day

As Prime Day 2024 approaches, scheduled for July 16 and 17, Amazon workers in Montreal are raising the alarm about their working conditions and safety. While this massive sales event promises savings and exclusive deals for Prime members, warehouse employees feel increased pressure and growing concerns for their health and safety. According to a Global News article, workers in Montreal are worried about the heightened demands imposed by their employers... Read more →

Amazon Workers in Quebec Ready to Form Historic Union

Today, Amazon workers in Laval, Quebec, ignite a revolutionary spark as they embark on the journey to form the first union in a Canadian Amazon warehouse. The Montreal Amazon Workers Union (MAWU-CSN) presents evidence to the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT), revealing a majority of DXT4 warehouse employees have signed union cards. In the face of exploitation and surveillance, workers unite against unjust wages, precarious contracts, and unsafe conditions. Their... Read more →

Essential Work, Disposable Workers with Mostafa Henaway

*Le français suit. In collaboration with Fernwood Publishing, Solidarity across borders and the Immigrant Worker Centre (IWC), the Social Justice Centre presents a book panel on “Essential Work, Disposable Workers” by Mostafa Henaway at the SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation on Feb 7 from 6-8 pm. Mostafa Henaway is a former graduate fellow of the Social Justice Centre, a researcher, and a long-time community organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal, where he has been... Read more →

Media Coverage Highlights Critical Report on Dollarama and Amazon Warehouses in Montreal

In an exclusive study, researchers shed light on the challenging working conditions within the Montreal warehouses of Dollarama and Amazon. This report, conducted by the Interuniversity and Interdisciplinary Research Group on Employment, Poverty, and Social Protection (GIREPS), the Center for Immigrant Workers (CTTI), and the Association of Agency Workers (ATTAP), presents a disconcerting portrayal of the labor landscape in these major retail warehouses. You can read this coverage here: Dollarama... Read more →

MOBILIZING FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WAREHOUSES

  Over recent years, the warehousing sector has experienced significant growth, and the trend was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly thanks to the rise of e-commerce. Faced with this reality, the Groupe interuniversitaire et interdisciplinaire de recherche sur l'emploi, la pauvreté et la protection sociale (GIREPS), the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI) and the Temporary Agency Workers Association (TAWA-ATTAP) launched a research project in January 2022 to examine the employment,... Read more →

Two years since the adoption of PL59

Two years of workplace health and safety demolition Despite the interim regime that has been in force for 18 months, what we are seeing on the ground in workplaces is that the implementation of this reform is tedious ultimately allowing for the enforcement of the minimal obligations stipulalted for by the law - David Bergeron-Cyr On the occasion of the second anniversary of the implementation of the Loi modernisant le... Read more →

Our Voice: August edition of the amazon workers newspaper

The Amazon Worker Committee, in collaboration with the CSN union, presents the third edition of the monthly Amazon workers newspaper ''Our Voice''. A newspaper by Amazon workers for Amazon workers. Each edition provides comprehensive coverage of the latest developments across Amazon warehouses in the Montreal region. The August edition dwelves in to the following topics: Labour Minister visits Yul5 : Minister of Labour misled by Amazon management Amazon silences workers:... Read more →

MANDATORY EXTRA TIME MAKES PEAK SEASON AT AMAZON UNSAFE FOR WORKERS

Download: MANDATORY EXTRA TIME Brochure By Jasper Jones As its title implies, Mandatory Extra Time, or mandatory overtime, in short, leaves workers no room for manoeuver. I have worked for Amazon for over six months in several locations in Montreal . Now, I know for a fact that safety comes last at Amazon, despite management’s claims.

Amazon Workers Committee’s Recent Achievements: New Flyer!

Download the New Flyer! The Labor Critic for Québec solidaire Alexandre Leduc has called for an investigation into the working conditions at Amazon warehouses in Quebec. Leduc urged the Minister of Labour to address the concerns of Amazon workers, emphasizing that the company's work methods do not comply with Quebec labour laws. He expressed serious concerns about health and safety standards, referring to the warehouses as "wound factories.    ... Read more →

Leduc Urges Investigation into Amazon’s Working Conditions

Alexandre Leduc Urges Minister of Labour to Address Concerns Raised by Amazon Workers, Delegation Meets in Parliament At National Assembly on Thursday in Quebec city, Alexandre Leduc, the Labor Critic for the Second Opposition Group, Québec solidaire; has addressed, the ongoing concerns surrounding the working conditions at Amazon warehouses in Quebec. Leduc called upon the Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, to take immediate action and launch an investigation into the... Read more →

Montreal Amazon’s Workers Committee

Montreal Amazon’s Workers Committee The Amazon warehouse workers committee brings together former and current Amazon workers, with the support of the Immigrant Workers Centre to create a space for workers to discuss the range of issues workers face. Whether it be health and safety, basic labour rights and wages, or problems related to unfair treatment by managers. The committee supports workers' efforts to file complaints at the CNESST, for their... Read more →

Migrant labour and justice at Concordia: bridges

At Concordia University, a diverse group came together to address the pressing issues of precarious labor and migrant justice in Quebec. Participated in the event, members from the women's committee of the IWC, along with members and workers from the Amazon committee and the South Asian committee of the IWC. They were joined by a representative of the Federation of Commerce of the CSN . The workshop was organized by... Read more →

Amplifying Voices: Amazon Workers Convene with Quebec’s National Assembly Members

This week, the voices of Amazon workers resonated powerfully at the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI), as they shared their stories with with two Quebec Members of National Assembly Gabriel Nadeau Dubois and Alexandre Leduc. The mission? To exert pressure on the government to hold Amazon accountable for respecting the fundamental rights of its workers. Their stories are our stories. Stories of hard work, resilience, and, unfortunately, stories of exploitation. This... Read more →
Photo taken by Menna Hijab

Amazon Workers’ Struggle: Insights from the Materialism Conference

Yesterday marked a historic moment in the ongoing struggle for workers' rights, equality, and justice at Amazon warehouses in Montreal. Over one hundred attendees flooded the auditorium, their faces filled with hope, passion, and conviction, for the historical materialism conference in Montreal. It was a testament to the enduring spirit of our shared cause and the collective power we possess when we unite. Notable amongst the distinguished speakers was Alexandre... Read more →

May Day: Confronting Inequality and Rising Expenses

On May 1st, in Montreal, we united in solidarity on the streets, to raise our voices against the escalating cost of living, which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of our society. As inflation soars, the wealthiest individuals and corporations exploit the situation, amassing even greater profits at the expense of the working class. Many workers face the harsh reality of stagnant wages amidst skyrocketing prices for essential goods and... Read more →