Canada's Labour Relations Board has expanded its retroactive wage ruling against Amazon to cover workers at multiple British Columbia warehouse facilities, following Wednesday's order requiring back pay at the Delta distribution centre. The decision, announced Friday morning, is expected to affect an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 workers across the province and could cost Amazon Canada tens of millions of dollars in unpaid compensation.
The original Delta ruling, which ordered Amazon to pay contractually obligated wage increases retroactively, was seen by labour advocates as a test case for broader enforcement. The Board found that Amazon had systematically delayed implementing agreed pay schedules at the Delta site, and investigators subsequently identified similar patterns at the company's fulfillment centres in Coquitlam and Abbotsford.
Amazon Canada issued a statement Friday acknowledging the ruling while indicating the company is reviewing its options, including a potential appeal to the Federal Court. 'We are committed to fair compensation for our associates and are carefully assessing the Board's findings,' the statement read. The company did not specify a timeline for compliance.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which has been organising Amazon warehouse staff in British Columbia, called the expanded ruling a landmark moment for gig and logistics workers across Canada. UFCW National Representative Kim Novak said the decision signals that labour boards are prepared to enforce wage agreements with large technology and logistics employers with the same rigour applied to traditional industries.
The ruling adds to mounting labour pressure on Amazon's Canadian operations at a time when the company is already navigating broader regulatory scrutiny. Analysts noted that the financial exposure, while significant, is unlikely to materially affect Amazon's overall earnings, but the reputational and precedent-setting dimensions of the case could influence labour negotiations across the North American logistics sector throughout 2026.