- Hundreds of Amazon warehouse employees in western Canada are covered by a union contract after an independent arbitrator imposed terms between Amazon and Unifor.
- The three-year contract includes a 3.25% wage increase in October 2027 and a 3.5% raise in October 2028, as well as an additional week of vacation for workers with at least 10 years of service.
- Amazon said workers would be required to pay dues of up to C$1,064 in the first year, and the company will continue to fight the contract through legal channels, calling the process
'improper, unfair, and defies common sense
I know this is not popular in HN, but these tactics have adverse effects. Look into the quality of life, wages and services in places like France. Unions have brought about a lot of economic malaise there.
Unfortunately, Canada is following EU's failed policies under liberals.
As a European, and an entrepreneur, I think it’s quite misleading to refer to “failed EU liberal policies”. Whenever I read news from or visit the United States I am often stunned by how badly the average American citizen is treated by their employer, their institutions, and by the economy at large: laden with debt, bereft of employment protections, no social security and public health network, and forced into a false political dichotomy by an (essentially) two-party system largely fuelled and funded by corporate interests. Do the liberal policies of the EU have downsides? Absolutely. But it’s not like the United States is not overburdened by debt either, and it hasn’t benefitted its citizens very much.
I think the data is clear, and points out to limitations of the social model (as well as the American system).
As they often say, the poorest states like Mississippi are richer than wealthiest European countries, like France, see per Capita income or AHDI. You may point out to inequality, but even accounting for that, one can compare the median income of the lower middle class in US to that of the upper class in EU. I can show you links for, like, salaries of best scientists in EU vs Walmart workers in US (but you can also find it yourself).
There is tax-funded health care in Canada, but how is the quality? Look into waiting times in Canada's health care system. These systems are under strain, in Canada some people go to usa for on-time treatment.
Job security is good to an extent. Security in hell isn't interesting. Depends on conditions.
The US system has its limitations too, like unbounded inequality or expensive health care.
Income doesn't tell the whole story. Try comparing life expectancy[1].
France: 83.7 (#20)
Canada: 83.1 (#26)
U.S.: 79.8 (#64)
The U.S. does have high wages but their healthcare system is highly inefficient. A huge proportion of healthcare dollars go to insurance company profits. Denied claims and co-pays make preventative care problematic for the majority of the population, reducing both lifespan and quality of life. I'll take Canada's healthcare system any day. We Canadians complain about waiting for non-urgent procedures, but then we look at what's going on South of the border and thank our lucky stars!
When people compare income levels to the U.S., they really should factor in healthcare costs, and also consider that every person in most European countries, as well as Canada, has the equivalent to a significantly better-than-average insurance plan in the U.S.. Sure, the ultra-rich may do better in the U.S., but a system that only works better for 1% of the population isn't doing its job very well.
The "limitations" you speak of may actually be advantages if you measure them properly.
https://archive.today/UwTQF
Gift link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-13/amazon-s-...
Key takeaways:
- Hundreds of Amazon warehouse employees in western Canada are covered by a union contract after an independent arbitrator imposed terms between Amazon and Unifor.
- The three-year contract includes a 3.25% wage increase in October 2027 and a 3.5% raise in October 2028, as well as an additional week of vacation for workers with at least 10 years of service.
- Amazon said workers would be required to pay dues of up to C$1,064 in the first year, and the company will continue to fight the contract through legal channels, calling the process 'improper, unfair, and defies common sense
I know this is not popular in HN, but these tactics have adverse effects. Look into the quality of life, wages and services in places like France. Unions have brought about a lot of economic malaise there.
Unfortunately, Canada is following EU's failed policies under liberals.
As a European, and an entrepreneur, I think it’s quite misleading to refer to “failed EU liberal policies”. Whenever I read news from or visit the United States I am often stunned by how badly the average American citizen is treated by their employer, their institutions, and by the economy at large: laden with debt, bereft of employment protections, no social security and public health network, and forced into a false political dichotomy by an (essentially) two-party system largely fuelled and funded by corporate interests. Do the liberal policies of the EU have downsides? Absolutely. But it’s not like the United States is not overburdened by debt either, and it hasn’t benefitted its citizens very much.
I think the data is clear, and points out to limitations of the social model (as well as the American system).
As they often say, the poorest states like Mississippi are richer than wealthiest European countries, like France, see per Capita income or AHDI. You may point out to inequality, but even accounting for that, one can compare the median income of the lower middle class in US to that of the upper class in EU. I can show you links for, like, salaries of best scientists in EU vs Walmart workers in US (but you can also find it yourself).
There is tax-funded health care in Canada, but how is the quality? Look into waiting times in Canada's health care system. These systems are under strain, in Canada some people go to usa for on-time treatment.
Job security is good to an extent. Security in hell isn't interesting. Depends on conditions.
The US system has its limitations too, like unbounded inequality or expensive health care.
Income doesn't tell the whole story. Try comparing life expectancy[1].
France: 83.7 (#20)
Canada: 83.1 (#26)
U.S.: 79.8 (#64)
The U.S. does have high wages but their healthcare system is highly inefficient. A huge proportion of healthcare dollars go to insurance company profits. Denied claims and co-pays make preventative care problematic for the majority of the population, reducing both lifespan and quality of life. I'll take Canada's healthcare system any day. We Canadians complain about waiting for non-urgent procedures, but then we look at what's going on South of the border and thank our lucky stars!
When people compare income levels to the U.S., they really should factor in healthcare costs, and also consider that every person in most European countries, as well as Canada, has the equivalent to a significantly better-than-average insurance plan in the U.S.. Sure, the ultra-rich may do better in the U.S., but a system that only works better for 1% of the population isn't doing its job very well.
The "limitations" you speak of may actually be advantages if you measure them properly.
______________
[1]https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/life-expectancy/
Yeah yeah, America great. We get it!
Europe has better quality of life than the US. Majority of Americans are workers. Anti worker belief system folks are a minority, and always will be.