Amazon to Close Seven Quebec Warehouses, Eliminating 1,700 Jobs Amid Unionization Controversy

Voice
By Voice
3 Min Read

Amazon has announced the closure of all seven of its warehouses in Quebec within the next two months, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,700 full-time positions and 250 temporary jobs in the Montreal area. The decision, according to Amazon, follows a “recent review” of its operations and is intended to offer “more savings” to customers over the long term.

The closures include a fulfillment center, two sorting facilities, three delivery stations, and an AMXL center handling large shipments like furniture and televisions. Amazon plans to revert to its pre-2020 model in Quebec, relying on third-party delivery companies to handle logistics in the province.

Amazon spokesperson Barbara Agrait stated that the decision was not taken lightly, and the company will provide impacted employees with up to 14 weeks of pay and transitional benefits, including job placement resources.

- Advertisement -

Unionization Tensions Emerge

The closures have sparked accusations that Amazon’s decision is tied to efforts to suppress unionization. In May 2024, approximately 240 workers at a Laval warehouse became the first Amazon employees in Canada to unionize. Amazon unsuccessfully contested the union’s right to represent workers, losing the case in a provincial labor tribunal in October.

Caroline Senneville, president of the union involved in organizing efforts, described the closures as “a slap in the face for all Quebec workers” and accused Amazon of anti-union retaliation. She stated that the move directly contradicts provisions of Quebec’s Labour Code and pledged to take a firm stand against the company’s decision.

Government Response

Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne condemned Amazon’s decision, expressing frustration over the lack of prior consultation. In a statement shared on social media, Champagne said he had contacted Amazon Canada’s leadership to voice his objections, calling the closures “not the way business is done in Canada.”

- Advertisement -

A Familiar Pattern

Labor experts have drawn parallels between Amazon’s actions and Walmart Canada’s controversial closure of a unionized store in Jonquière, Quebec, 20 years ago. Walmart cited profitability concerns, but the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2014 that Walmart had violated Quebec labor law.

Michael Lynk, professor emeritus of law at Western University, called Amazon’s decision a “labor relations ‘Groundhog Day’ for Quebec,” reflecting historical tensions between corporations and labor rights in the province.

Looking Ahead

The closures mark a significant shift in Amazon’s Canadian operations and have reignited debates over corporate accountability, labor rights, and unionization in Quebec. With unions and government officials vowing to contest the decision, the fallout could have broader implications for labor relations across Canada.

Share This Article