# Amazon closing all warehouses in Québec **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 22, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264 "2025-01-22T20:02:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/1 "2025-01-22T20:02:29Z")
Amazon announced today that they were closing their 7 warehouses in Québec. The company says the closures are not related to the fact that one of them is unionised. Apparently it’s not just the warehouses, but the Amazon-employed delivery workers too. Amazon will revert to third-party delivery. > **[Amazon to close Quebec facilities, insists it's not because of new union |...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/amazon-warehouse-closures-quebec-1.7438078)** > > A company spokesperson said Amazon will outsource deliveries to smaller contractors. The spokesperson insisted that the decision was tied to cost savings — not the recent unionization of about 300 employees at the Laval, Que. warehouse.  ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/2 "2025-01-22T20:19:03Z")
> [@](#): > > The spokesperson insisted that the decision was tied to cost savings — not the recent unionization of about 300 employees at the Laval, Que. warehouse. That doesn’t look like two different things, to me. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/3 "2025-01-22T20:29:00Z")
Quebec is a really big place to have zero warehouses. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/4 "2025-01-22T20:30:56Z")
I think, prior to opening the first warehouse in Lachine in 2020 (see below), they were using third-party distribution/logistics centres. They’ll probably revert to that model. > **[Amazon's First Fulfillment Centre in Quebec Celebrates its Day One with New...](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/amazon-s-first-fulfillment-centre-in-quebec-celebrates-its-day-one-with-new-employees-860766246.html)** > > /CNW/ - Amazon's first fulfillment centre in Quebec officially celebrated its "day one" earlier this month with its newest employees. After a morning of... ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/5 "2025-01-22T20:40:31Z")
I’d be fascinated to see an in-depth study of just what went on here. But since all we can do right now is speculate, I’ll speculate that there’s plenty of blame to go around. The timeline is quite interesting. In April, 2024, a union applied for certification of workers at the Lachine warehouse. In May, certification was granted. And then … > **Aug. 1, 2024** > > An Administrative Labour Tribunal judge directs Amazon to stop interfering with union affairs at its facility in Lachine. Judge Henrik Ellefsen orders Amazon to remove and destroy all the anti-union posters the company has put up at its facilities. Amazon is ordered to pay a total of $30,000 in moral and punitive damages. > > **Jan. 22, 2025** > > Amazon announces it will shutter its facilities in Quebec in the coming weeks. Coincidence? 😉 My speculation is that this was the result of a conflict between Quebec’s exceptionally strong labour laws (not to mention its repressive language laws and general anti-corporatism) and Amazon’s historically adamant opposition to both unions and the laws that support them. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/6 "2025-01-22T22:44:19Z")
Not the first time in Quebec when management has closed businesses when union certification was in progress. At least one McDonald’s closed in Montreal, and at least two Wal-Marts (Jonquiere and Gatineau) after the unions got in. But never as much as closing down a whole company’s operations such as Amazon. The Jonquiere Wal-Mart remained empty for almost 10 years while the courts discussed the case. The workers were awarded compensation, and the store now appears to be a warehouse. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/7 "2025-01-23T00:39:08Z")
We also had the Hyundai plant in Bromont in the late 1980s - early 1990s. Wal-Mart was ordered to compensate its workers because the judge saw that it had obviously closed only the unionized store and left the others open. One can presume that Amazon is closing _everything_ to avoid that same situation. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/8 "2025-01-23T06:13:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Quebec is a really big place to have zero warehouses. They’ll just get around the laws by re-opening new warehouses under a different name – either a shell company owned by Amazon, or separate companies contracted by Amazon to do the shipping. Amazon might even lease those buildings and the equipment to them to do the work. They might even hire back some of those laid-off workers, if they promise not to support a union. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/9 "2025-01-23T21:02:33Z")
If you believe it has nothing to do with the union, how would you like to buy a very nice bridge? ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/10 "2025-01-23T21:30:25Z")
I think their intention is to stay on-message that this is about business models and cost centers, so that no judge can find the word “union” in their press releases (and emails and pink slips). ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/11 "2025-01-23T22:40:58Z")
Make them repay every subsidy and grant, if not in full, a big giant chunk. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/12 "2025-01-23T22:51:22Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Make them repay every subsidy and grant, if not in full, a big giant chunk With compound interest. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/13 "2025-01-23T22:55:37Z")
Unlikely. The gouvernement uses AWS like everyone else. And the AWS data centre(s) in Québec will probably remain open. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/14 "2025-01-24T01:07:37Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > They’ll just get around the laws by re-opening new warehouses under a different name – either a shell company owned by Amazon, or separate companies contracted by Amazon to do the shipping. Amazon might even lease those buildings and the equipment to them to do the work. They might even hire back some of those laid-off workers, if they promise not to support a union. Except in that case the new companies are bound by the certification order, under the Quebec Labour Code: > [@](#): > > [45.](https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cs/c-27#se:45) The alienation or operation by another in whole or in part of an undertaking shall not invalidate any certification granted under this Code, any collective agreement or any proceeding for the securing of certification or for the making or carrying out of a collective agreement. > > The new employer, notwithstanding the division, amalgamation or changed legal structure of the undertaking, shall be bound by the certification or collective agreement as if he were named therein and shall become ipsofacto a party to any proceeding relating thereto, in the place and stead of the former employer. > > The second paragraph does not apply in the case of the transfer of part of the operation of an undertaking where such transfer does not entail the transfer to the transferee, in addition to functions or the right to operate, of most of the elements that characterize the part of the undertaking involved. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/15 "2025-01-24T01:10:38Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > If you believe it has nothing to do with the union, how would you like to buy a very nice bridge? Do you offer free shipping? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/16 "2025-01-24T01:19:05Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Do you offer free shipping?   Only if you sign up for premium level Prime membership, which includes 1 free $0.99 music download a month. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/17 "2025-01-24T01:22:52Z")
These are all well and good, but in practice Amazon will just ship from Ontario in March, and then gradually come back to distributing some of its stuff in Québec via logistics firms such as DHL. And the Amazon delivery drivers will be out of a job, and Amazon will use delivery companies such as Intelcom (as it did up to a few years ago), whose own drivers are themselves “independent contractors”. So not the same workers, not the same employers, not the same vehicles, not the same buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/18 "2025-01-24T01:25:20Z")
Yes, there’s ways for Amazon to do business in Quebec without its own warehouses and delivery crew. I was responding to the suggestion that Amazon could just play shell games with its facilities. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/19 "2025-01-24T01:31:33Z")
Ah, got it, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264/20 "2025-01-24T07:39:58Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > there’s ways for Amazon to do business in Quebec without its own warehouses and delivery crew How much money does Amazon lose by outsourcing it all? Amazon obviously prefers to operate their own warehouses, their own trucks, setting their own (non-unionized) work conditions, controlling their own employees/slaves. If they outsource , they lose efficiency. Those external workers might actually go to the bathroom on their company’s time. And using external warehouses (presumably smaller and less ‘robot-ified’,) will slow down shipping. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-closing-all-warehouses-in-quebec/1013264.md?page=2)