Bargaining Update: The Mediator Recommends a Path to Our First Contrac
Dear Unifor members at YVR2,
We have important news from bargaining!
An independent expert appointed by the B.C. Labour Relations Board to help both sides reach a deal has reviewed how bargaining has gone. His report is a strong step forward for us.
The mediator recommended that our first contract be settled with binding third-party help, where an independent person can decide the terms if the two sides cannot agree. This is the path your bargaining committee asked for. Amazon wanted a different path that gave you no guarantee of a first contract.
The mediator also looked closely at why bargaining stalled. He found that Amazon—not the union—held things up. In particular:
1. Amazon refused to move on workplace standards. It demanded that the union give up the right to ever challenge how fast and hard you are pushed to work, now or in the future. The mediator called this an unreasonable, uncompromising position.
2. Amazon delayed its wage offer. It held back any wage proposal until April, even after the mediator told the company more than once to put one forward. The mediator found this was not a reasonable effort to reach a deal.
What happens next: this is a recommendation, not a final decision. The Labour Board will now decide how bargaining moves forward. We will keep you updated every step of the way.
This report confirms what many of you already know: your union is fighting for a fair first contract, and Amazon has been the one standing in the way.
If you have any questions, talk to a member of your bargaining committee or reach out to me directly.
In solidarity,
Mario Santos
Unifor National Representative