Amazon workers in the United States have gone on strike at several company facilities, prompting many Canadian shoppers to wonder how this strike will affect their deliveries. According to the Associated Press, the Teamsters union, which represents about 10,000 Amazon workers, announced the strike at seven U.S. facilities on Thursday morning after a deadline set by the union for negotiations expired on December 15.

Although this strike involves a small portion of Amazon's total workforce, which numbers 1.5 million, its impact could be noticeable in the United States. However, the most pressing question was about its effect on delivery operations in Canada.

Amazon Canada's Position

In response from Amazon Canada, the company confirmed that it does not expect any impact on its operations in Canada, including delivery operations. Amazon Canada spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated to CTVNews.ca, "There is no impact on operations in Canada, and we continue to focus on delivering orders to our customers during the holiday season."

Nantel added that the union has spread "misleading" information regarding its representation of thousands of Amazon workers in the United States, asserting that the workers participating in the strike are "mostly gig workers" and not direct employees of Amazon.

The Dispute Over the Strike Classification

Amazon and the Teamsters union disagree over the classification of the ongoing labor action in the United States. While the union calls this action "the largest strike against Amazon in the company's history," Amazon denies that there is an official strike by its employees. The company points out that the drivers represented by the union are actually employees of small businesses known as Delivery Service Partners (DSPs), which are independent companies that handle Amazon's delivery operations.

What Does This Mean for Canadian Consumers?

Despite Amazon's assurances that delivery operations in Canada will not be affected, concerns remain for many Canadian shoppers who rely on shipments from the U.S. Currently, the impact of the strike on deliveries in Canada appears to be limited, especially for products being shipped from facilities in Canada or from other countries.

Conclusion

While the strike continues in the United States, small businesses and independent partners dealing with Amazon in Canada remain outside the dispute, contributing to the stability of delivery operations in that country. However, the question remains about how Amazon will handle these issues in the future, especially amid increasing pressure from unions and workers.