The e-commerce giant Amazon has announced that it’s shutting down its operations in Quebec, leaving about 1,700 workers without a job.
Amazon spokesperson Barbara Agrait said on Wednesday that the company will be closing its warehouses and delivery stations across seven sites in Quebec, affecting approximately 1,700 full-time employees and 250 seasonal workers. The company cites a desire to return to a third-party delivery model, which it claims will provide cost savings to customers.”
In her statement, she said, and I quote: “Following a recent review of our Quebec operations, we’ve seen that returning to a third-party delivery model… will allow us to provide even more savings to our customers.”
“This decision wasn’t made lightly, and we’re offering impacted employees a package that includes up to 14 weeks’ pay after facilities close and transitional benefits, like job placement resources,” Agrait added.
In May, Amazon warehouse workers represented by the Canadian labor union Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) unionized, citing dissatisfaction with wages and inadequate health and safety measures at the facilities.
The CSN, representing 300 workers at the site north of Montreal, said on Wednesday that Amazon’s decision made no business sense and directly targets the company’s only unionized warehouse in Canada.
In a statement by CSN president Caroline Senneville, the union said, and I quote: “There is no doubt that the closings announced today are part of an anti-union campaign against CSN and Amazon employees.
“This move contradicts the provisions of the Quebec Labour Code, which we will strongly oppose,” Senneville added.
The Canadian government has also weighed in on the issue as Federal Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne expressed the government’s disappointment and frustration and said he had spoken to the head of Amazon Canada.
“I expressed our dismay and frustration after learning in the news that they intend to let go of 1,700 employees and close all seven of their warehouses in Québec,” Champagne wrote in a post on X.
“This is not the way business is done in Canada.”
The closure of Amazon’s Quebec operations is a devastating blow to the workers and their families, and it’s a stark reminder of the challenges facing the Canadian job market. We’ll continue to follow this story and update you as more information becomes available.
