Amazon Plans To Shutter Three UK Warehouses — Retail Bum

Amazon is considering plans to close three U.K. warehouses as it continues to reevaluate its current business needs.

The company is looking to shutter its warehouse sites in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster, and Gourock, a move that is expected to impact 1,200 workers.

Amazon noted that the site closures are not related to its plans to cut 18,000 jobs and that they are aimed at readying the company for an economic downturn in 2023.

“All employees affected by site closure consultations will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other facilities, and we remain committed to our customers, employees, and communities across the U.K.,” an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC.

While Amazon is looking to retain impacted workers, its efforts are still drawing criticism from labor union GMB as the company has yet to disclose the location and type of roles it would offer to warehouse workers.

“Hard-up Amazon workers cannot suddenly be expected to up sticks and move to a different fulfillment center which may be many miles away,” said Steve Garelick, chairman of the union GMB.

Garelick called Amazon’s proposal a “kick in the teeth” following the busy 2022 holiday season and accused the company of failing to offer its warehouse workers stable employment.

Originally published at https://retailbum.com on January 10, 2023.