Walmart Canada faces a unionization effort at its Mississauga warehouse. Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, has taken a step towards organizing workers at the facility.
The union recently filed an application with the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB), setting in motion a process that could lead to a unionized workforce at the Walmart warehouse. The move comes as part of a broader trend in Canada’s retail and logistics sectors.
Unifor’s push began in December 2023, mirroring similar efforts across the country. Notably, Amazon workers in Metro Vancouver initiated their own unionization campaign in 2024, though that vote remains pending due to legal challenges.
Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president, emphasized the importance of this development. “Walmart workers deserve better job security, improved safety measures, and fair compensation,” she stated. “This application marks a crucial step towards achieving these goals.”
The OLRB will now process Unifor’s application and determine whether a vote is necessary. If the union’s membership cards represent at least 40% of eligible workers, a vote will be scheduled within five business days.
Samia Hashi, Unifor’s Ontario regional director, addressed potential challenges. “Despite top-down opposition, Walmart workers have shown they’re ready for union protection,” Hashi noted. “Unions benefit workers, and Walmart is no exception to this rule.”
Unifor, representing 315,000 workers across various economic sectors, has a history of advocating for workers’ rights and social justice both in Canada and internationally.
This unionization attempt follows other recent labor developments in Canadian retail. In August 2024, grocery chain Metro reached a tentative agreement with Unifor for renewing its collective agreement with unionized employees.
