Online retailer Amazon said Wednesday that it’s closing all seven of its warehouses in the Canadian province of Quebec in the next two months.
The e-commerce giant said the move would provide “even more savings to our customers over the long run.” However, a Canadian union that successfully unionized one warehouse accused the company of closing its sites to fend off organizing efforts in the region.
The closures will eliminate about 1,700 permanent full-time jobs in the greater Montreal area, Amazon said. The warehouses also employ 250 temporary employees.
Amazon said it would enlist local, third-party companies to deliver packages, reverting to a business model it used in Quebec before 2020.
“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,” Amazon spokesperson Barbara Agrait said in a statement.
Agrait said the decision was made following a “recent review” of …