Ahead of Amazon Prime Day, Workers, Experts, and Labour rights Organizations Demand Action on Unsafe Conditions, Unachievable Quotas, and Harassment
Friday June 28th, 2024
Start time 10:30 Am
CNESST administrative office,
1199 Rue de Bleury, Montréal, QC H3B 3J1
Featuring speakers
Félix Lapan secretary general of uttam – Union des travailleuses et travailleurs accidentés ou malades.
Martine D’Amours est sociologue et professeure titulaire au Département des relations industrielles de l’Université Laval (Québec). et co-chercheur principal au Mobiliser pour la santé et la sécurité du travail dans les entrepôts
Yanick Noiseux est professeur au département de sociologie de l’Université de Montréal et co-chercheur principal au Mobiliser pour la santé et la sécurité du travail dans les entrepôts
Ibrahim AlSahary – Former Amazon worker fighting for justice, and organizer Immigrant Workers Centre
Aaron-current Amazon warehouse worker, member of the Montreal Amazon Workers Committee
Mostafa Henaway-Community organizer with the Immigrant Workers Centre
As Amazon Prime Day approaches in July, Montreal Amazon workers are bracing for the peak season’s intense pressures—higher quotas, longer hours, and increasing stress, harassment, and injuries.
One year ago, the Montreal Amazon Workers Committee met with Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet, demanding better protections and a public inquiry into Amazon’s work conditions. A recent report by GIREPS and the Immigrant Workers Centre revealed that 60% of workers suffer from musculoskeletal disorders due to repetitive tasks, and 55% have witnessed or experienced workplace injuries, exacerbated by inadequate protective equipment and training.
In response, the Immigrant Workers Centre, the Montreal Amazon Workers Committee, the Union of Injured or Ill Workers of Montreal, and academic experts are organizing a press conference. They will call for reforms to improve workplace health and safety including the recent labour reforms on workplace health and safety prevention measures. Workers will denounce Amazon’s productivity demands that create a climate of harassment and high injury rates, as well as Amazon’s strategies to limit access to CNESST and dismiss injured workers. Finally, we continue to call for a public inquiry into the working conditions at Amazon. Together, the speakers will demand the enforcement of laws to ensure safe and decent working conditions for over 2,000 Amazon workers in the Montreal region.
Document Reference for Journalists
We refer journalists to this document containing over 20 Amazon worker testimonials compiled by the Immigrant Workers Centre from 2022-2024, which highlights the working conditions at Amazon.
Click here to access testimonials
Access the Reports:
1. **Mobilizing for Occupational Health and Safety by GIREPS/IWC**:
Click here to access the report
2. **UTTAM Journal and Report on Amazon and Occupational Health and Safety**:
Click here to access the journal
3. **IRIS Study**:
Click here to access the study
For Media inquiries Mostafa Henaway, 514-659-0106
