Amazon has announced plans to close three of its UK warehouses and up to seven delivery stations, cutting more than 1,200 jobs.
The online retailer has begun negotiations to close stores in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourock in the west of Scotland.
It is also planned to eliminate delivery points at Portsmouth, Huntingdon, Horley, Newcastle, Birmingham and Hemel Hempstead and replace the two existing warehouses at Havant and Aylesford.
The proposals are separate from plans to cut some 18,000 jobs worldwide as part of cost-cutting measures.
The closure comes after Amazon unveiled plans to build two large new warehouses in Peddimore, West Midlands, and Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, which the company says will create 2,500 jobs over the next three years.
Employees at locations scheduled to close will be given the opportunity to transfer to other locations, Amazon said. “We are constantly evaluating our network to make sure it meets the needs of our business and enhances the experience for our employees and customers,” the spokesperson added.
“As part of this effort, we may close old outlets, upgrade existing outlets, or open new outlets, and we have begun consultations on the proposed closure of three fulfillment centers by 2023.”
Amazon’s Hemel Hempstead site currently has up to 500 employees, and all will be offered jobs at a nearby warehouse in Dunstable.
Steve Garelik, a member of the GMB union in Hemel Hempstead, called the parades “a real slap in the face for Amazon workers who were digging in the ground during the holiday onslaught.”
He warned that it might be difficult for staff to get jobs further from home, he added, especially when dealing with young parents who have trouble caring for their children.
“You can’t expect Amazon workers to suddenly get back on their feet and move to another fulfillment center that could be miles away,” he said.
The proposals will also severely affect about 300 workers at the plant in Gourock, an area with high unemployment. The only other Amazon warehouse in Scotland is in Dunfermline, and it will be difficult for employees to relocate.
Neil Bibby, a Scottish Labor MP in western Scotland, called the move “devastating”, while the Scottish government, which called the move “disappointing”, said it spoke to Amazon to “better understand the issues”.
Ronnie Cowan, SNP MP for Inverclyde, said he was also urgently seeking talks with Amazon: “This news comes as a huge blow to Gourock, Inverclyde and Scotland.
“At the global level of Amazon’s business, I don’t know how this will benefit the company in the future. Amazon has benefited from a loyal, dedicated and productive workforce at Gourock for many years, and whatever the reasons for this decision, it may not reflect the workforce.
“It goes without saying that in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, this will be a blow to employees and their families.”
Amazon inventory costs have risen due to a shortage of labor, especially for skilled jobs. Workers at the company’s Coventry warehouse plan to go on strike later this month demanding £15 an hour.
Source: I News
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