Amazon is shutting down its Quebec operations, affecting over 1,700 jobs, and will rely on subcontractors for deliveries
Quebec: Amazon just announced it’s closing its facilities in Quebec soon, which means over 1,700 jobs are on the line. That’s a big deal!
A spokesperson mentioned they’ll be outsourcing deliveries to smaller contractors. They say it’s all about saving costs, not because of the recent unionization at a Laval warehouse.
They did a review of their operations and decided to go back to a third-party delivery model. This is similar to what they had before 2020. They think it’ll help them save money and keep service levels high.
While they didn’t give a specific date, they did say the closures would happen in the next couple of months. It’s a tough time for those workers.
Interestingly, Quebec is home to Amazon’s only unionized workforce in Canada. The workers in Laval have been pretty vocal about their frustrations over pay and working conditions.
Recently, some of those unionized employees held a demonstration, pushing for better wages. They’re asking for $26 an hour, which is a $6 increase from what they currently earn.
Amazon has been in talks with them, but no collective agreement has been reached yet. They have several warehouses in the Montreal area and one in Coteau-du-Lac, which is about 60 kilometers away.
With the closure of seven sites, employees will receive up to 14 weeks of salary as they transition out. It’s a tough situation for everyone involved.
More updates are expected soon.
