Amazon.com Inc said on Wednesday that it will shut down operations in Quebec over the next two months, impacting seven facilities, including a fulfillment center, sorting centers, and delivery stations. Barbara Agrait, an Amazon spokesperson, confirmed the move to CTV News, explaining that 1,700 regular employees and 250 seasonal workers will be affected.
Agrait emphasized that the decision is unrelated to unionization efforts. Affected employees will receive severance packages with 14 weeks of pay and transitional benefits, including job placement support. Seasonal workers will be compensated until their contracts end.
The company will return to a third-party model supported by small local businesses. "This is something we already had in Quebec, we had it in place until 2020 […] We believe it’s going to allow us to provide the same great business to our customers," Agrait noted.