Amazon blamed for bargaining breakdown at unionized B.C. warehouse
Mediator finds retailer blocked workers at every turn in first-contract talks at Delta fulfillment centre.
An independent mediator has found Amazon responsible for the collapse of contract negotiations at YVR2, its only unionized fulfillment centre in British Columbia, located in Delta.
The mediator's report, filed with the B.C. Labour Relations Board, concluded that Amazon's conduct "materially caused" the bargaining impasse. The union representing workers, Unifor, says the company blocked progress on two critical fronts: it demanded workers permanently waive any right to challenge workload intensity and speed requirements, then told the mediator it would "never" move from that position. Amazon also withheld wage proposals until April despite the mediator's request to table them earlier.
Both failures were found unreasonable by the mediator. Unifor national president Lana Payne said the company blocked workers "at every turn." Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The dispute escalates a broader labour conflict at Amazon's B.C. operations. In February, the Labour Relations Board found the company violated provincial labour code by granting scheduled pay increases to workers at most of its facilities while excluding the unionized Delta warehouse employees—a move that further inflamed contract talks.
The board has recommended the dispute be resolved through binding mediation-arbitration, signalling a path forward after months of deadlock.