Amazon to Close All Warehouses in Quebec, Sparking Controversy
In a surprising move that has sent shockwaves through the Canadian province of Quebec, online retail giant Amazon has announced the closure of all seven of its warehouses in the region. The decision, slated to take effect within the next two months, is set to impact approximately 1,950 jobs, consisting of 1,700 permanent full-time positions and 250 temporary employees.
While Amazon has framed the closure as a strategic measure to enhance cost-efficiency and provide long-term savings for customers, critics are quick to point out a different narrative. The move comes on the heels of a successful unionization effort at one of Amazon’s Quebec warehouses, leading to accusations that the closures are a deliberate attempt to thwart organizing efforts within the region.
Amazon spokesperson, Barbara Agrait, defended the decision, stating that the company conducted a recent review of its operations in Quebec, leading to the conclusion to shut down the facilities. She emphasized that impacted employees will be offered a package that includes up to 14 weeks’ pay post-closure, along with transitional benefits aimed at aiding in job placement.
The closures will encompass a variety of Amazon’s logistical infrastructure in Quebec, including a fulfillment center, two sorting centers, three delivery stations, and a specialized facility known as AMXL, which handles the shipment of large items like TVs and furniture. Moving forward, Amazon plans to outsource its delivery services to local third-party companies, reverting to a business model utilized in Quebec prior to 2020.
The announcement has garnered swift backlash from various quarters, with Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, expressing his objections on social media. Champagne condemned Amazon’s decision to let go of nearly 2,000 employees and shutter all warehouse operations in Quebec, asserting that such actions do not align with Canadian business practices.
The closures also mark a significant blow to the labor movement in the region, particularly following the successful unionization of around 240 Amazon workers at a warehouse in Laval earlier this year. The unionization drive, a milestone for Amazon’s Canadian operations, faced legal challenges from the company but ultimately prevailed in a provincial labor tribunal.
Caroline Senneville, president of the union involved in the Laval organizing efforts, condemned the closures as a setback for workers in Quebec. She characterized the move as an anti-union tactic that flouts labor regulations and vowed to challenge it vigorously.
Legal experts such as Michael Lynk, a professor emeritus of law at Western University, drew parallels between Amazon’s actions in Quebec and a similar episode involving Walmart Canada in the past. Lynk likened the situation to a “labor relations ‘Groundhog Day,'” referencing Walmart’s closure of a store in Jonquiere, Quebec, following union certification by its employees.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represented workers at the Jonquiere store, pushed back against Walmart’s actions and ultimately secured a ruling from
