Ici, ON BOYCOTTE AMAZON - 2025.02.17
(ChatGPT) On January 22, 2025, Amazon announced the closure of its seven warehouses in Quebec, a decision that resulted in the loss of nearly 2,000 direct jobs and affected approximately 1,500 additional workers employed by subcontractors.
This closure came shortly after the historic unionization of the Laval warehouse in May 2024, where employees joined the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN).
In response, the CSN launched a boycott campaign against Amazon, accusing the company of anti-union practices and claiming that the warehouse closures were intended to discourage unionization efforts. Meanwhile, a Montreal resident filed a class-action lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that the closures constituted a violation of workers’ and consumers’ rights.
Amazon, for its part, justified its decision by citing a reassessment of its operations in Quebec, opting for an outsourced delivery model similar to the one in place before 2020. The company denied that the decision was related to unionization efforts, stating that it aimed to optimize its services and achieve cost savings for customers.
The warehouse closures sparked political reactions, notably from Canada’s Minister of Innovation, François-Philippe Champagne, who expressed his “dismay and frustration” over the announcement, emphasizing that “this is not how business is done in Canada.”
As of today, workers affected by these closures find themselves in a precarious situation, facing job loss and uncertainty about their professional future. The ongoing collective actions and boycott campaigns reflect the persistent tensions between Amazon, its employees, and unions in Quebec.
Union calls for boycott of Amazon after closure of Quebec warehouses (2025.02.04)
https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/article730550.html
Amazon closing all Quebec warehouses, laying off more than 1,700 workers (2025.01.22)
https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/amazon-is-ceasing-operations-in-quebec/
Pictures of a demonstration in Montreal on February 15, 2025:
