‘Un-Canadian’.
That’s how Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne described Amazon’s decision to shut down its Quebec operations amid a dispute over unionization of about 1,950 employees.
The otherwise affable Champagne — who has the nickname ‘Frankie Bubbles’ — blew his cork in a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy to “communicate his strong disappointment” over the company’s decision and encouraged him to reconsider the decision “immediately.”
In a post on Twitter (“X”), Champagne said “this is not the way business is done in Canada.”
“When Amazon entered the Canadian market, it did so recognizing the value of Canada's exceptional workers. As a company that purports to value its workers and seeks to be "Earth's best employer," I find yesterday's announcement inconsistent with those values,” he wrote.
“(This) decision is inconsistent with your expressed interest in being a leader and strategic partner within Canada's industrial economy… is not one that will instill (sp) confidence, and it raises questions about your commitment to Canada and your Canadian partners.”
Further, Champagne made a thinly veiled threat: “For my part, such large and sudden layoffs are cause for concern. You will undoubtedly understand that such action calls for a review of the business relationship that exists between Amazon and the Government of Canada.”
There was no word if that was enough for Amazon to reconsider.
On Wednesday it announced plans to ceasing all operations amid strained labour relations with its newly certified union.
Quebec is home to Amazon’s only unionized workforce in Canada. About 200 employees in Laval took the company to the province’s labour relations board complaining of low wages, poor working conditions and inadequate health and safety measures.
At recent demonstrations, workers’ representatives demanded a 30% pay increase to $26 per hour for its minimum wage earners.
In May of last year, Amazon opposed the workers’ accreditation with the Confederation of National Trade Unions but its appeal was rejected by Quebec’s labour tribunal in October.