Online retailer Amazon says the 1,200 employees affected by the move will be offered roles elsewhere, though it remains to be seen how many will choose to relocate.
The online retail giant Amazon has announced that it is to close three of its UK warehouses; those in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourock. At the same time, Amazon has also detailed plans to open two new sites in Peddimore (West Midlands) and Stockton-on-Tees (County Durham) which it says will create 2,500 new jobs.
The 1,200 people affected by the closures will be offered roles at other warehouses around the country, though no one can say with any certainty how many employees will want – or be in a position to – relocate. It’s been noted that none of the three sites marked for closure are nearby to any others, meaning job losses seem inevitable.
The news comes after Amazon revealed it is planning to slash some 18,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting exercise. Those affected are most likely to be within its People, Experience and Technology (PXT) organisation as well as its Amazon Fresh and Go stores. In an internal message shared with employees at the time of the announcement – which was pulled forward following a leak – Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said planning for 2023 has been made more difficult due to economic uncertainty and the fact Amazon has hired rapidly over the past few years.
He added: “S-team and I are deeply aware that these role eliminations are difficult for people, and we don’t take these decisions lightly or underestimate how much they might affect the lives of those who are impacted. We are working to support those who are affected and are providing packages that include a separation payment, transitional health insurance benefits and external job placement support.”
In Coventry, meanwhile, Amazon workers are poised to strike over pay. The industrial action, which starts on 25th January, is being taken as employees demand their basic rate of pay be increased to £15 an hour in line with inflation and the cost of living. As reported by the Guardian, workers at the site staged an informal stoppage in the summer, when they were told they would receive a pay rise of 50p an hour, taking the basic rate to £10.50.
Regarding the news of its slated warehouse closures, Amazon says it remains committed to its customers, employees and communities across the UK. A spokesperson is quoted as saying: “We’re always evaluating our network to make sure it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees and customers. As part of that effort, we may close older sites, enhance existing facilities, or open new sites, and we’ve launched a consultation on the proposed closure of three fulfilment centres in 2023.”
