Mediator says Amazon caused breakdown in B.C. contract talks

An independent mediator has concluded that Amazon was responsible for the breakdown of firstcontract bargaining at YVR2, the company’s unionized fulfilment centre in Delta, B.C. Unifor, which represents the workers, said the mediator recommended binding mediationarbitration to help resolve the dispute. The union said Amazon blocked progress during negotiations and refused to move on key issues, including worker workload rules and wage proposals. Amazon said collective bargaining for a first contract is complex and that it has participated in the process in good faith. The update follows a February ruling by the B.C. Labour Relations Board that found Amazon had violated the province’s labour code by excluding unionized warehouse employees from scheduled pay increases given to workers at other facilities.