Amazon to close 7 warehouses in the Canadian province of Quebec and eliminate 1,700 jobs

Core Viewpoint - Amazon is closing all seven of its warehouses in Quebec, resulting in the elimination of approximately 1,700 permanent full-time jobs and 250 temporary positions, which has raised concerns about the company's labor practices and potential anti-union motives [2][6][10] Group 1: Company Actions - The closures are expected to provide "even more savings to our customers over the long run," according to Amazon [2] - Amazon plans to revert to using local, third-party companies for package delivery, a model it utilized in Quebec prior to 2020 [3] - The decision to close the warehouses followed a "recent review" of the company's operations in the province, affecting one fulfillment center, two sorting centers, three delivery stations, and one facility for large goods [4] Group 2: Employment Impact - The closure will result in the loss of about 1,700 permanent full-time jobs in the greater Montreal area, along with 250 temporary jobs [2] - Amazon is offering impacted employees a severance package that includes up to 14 weeks' pay and transitional benefits such as job placement resources [3] Group 3: Reactions and Controversies - A Canadian union has accused Amazon of closing its warehouses to undermine organizing efforts, particularly after a successful unionization at one site [2][6] - Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry expressed dismay over the job losses and criticized Amazon's decision [5][6] - Union leaders have labeled the closures as part of an anti-union campaign, drawing parallels to past labor disputes involving other companies like Walmart [7][8]