Amazon has announced the impending closure of its seven warehouses in Quebec, a decision set to impact a significant portion of its workforce. The closures, which will unfold over the next two months, will see approximately 1,700 regular employees and 250 temporary seasonal workers laid off. This strategic move is part of Amazon's broader transition to a third-party delivery model, aimed at enhancing service and savings for its customers.
The affected employees span various roles, including managers and staff at delivery and sorting centers across Laval, Lachine, Longueuil, and Côteaux-du-Lac. The closures mark a significant shift for Amazon as it reverts to a delivery model supported by local small businesses. Despite concerns, Amazon asserts that these changes are unrelated to the recent unionization efforts at its Laval warehouse, where a union certification was obtained.
Barbara Agrait, a spokesperson for Amazon, emphasized the rationale behind this decision.
"Following a recent review of our Quebec operations, we’ve seen that returning to a third-party delivery model supported by local small businesses, similar to what we had until 2020, will allow us to provide the same great service and even more savings to our customers over the long run." – Barbara Agrait
The closures will not only affect direct employees but also thousands of independent contractors responsible for home deliveries. However, Amazon assures that customer services in Quebec will remain unaffected. Agrait further elaborated on the support for those impacted by the layoffs.
"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." – Barbara Agrait
The announcement came on Wednesday, leaving many stakeholders seeking clarity. The CSN union, representing the employees at the Laval DXT4 warehouse, was contacted for comment but has yet to respond. Additionally, Quebec's Economy and Labour Ministers were approached for their input on the situation but have not provided immediate feedback.
Amazon remains steadfast in its commitment to customer satisfaction despite these changes. The company maintains that by leveraging local partnerships through third-party delivery services, it can sustain high-quality service standards without compromising on cost efficiency.
