A group of citizens is calling on Quebecers to boycott Amazon as a sign of solidarity with the approximately 2,000 employees who will soon find themselves unemployed. They hope that the online commerce giant will reverse its decision to close its sites in the province.
“I had blocked off my day to apply for a job at Amazon today, and finally here I am on the streets mobilizing people to boycott the company. What a turnaround,” says Louisa Worrell, spokesperson for the movement, ironically.
A few hours after the multinational’s announcement Wednesday morning, criticism and calls for a boycott began to multiply on social networks.
Many consumers believe that it was the recent unionization of the Laval warehouse that really motivated the company to close its seven Quebec sites. Amazon, for its part, assures that it simply wants to return to its 2020 business model by once again entrusting the delivery of packages to subcontractors.
Among the dissatisfied, several decided to organize themselves to take action off the web, considering the political response too weak. Around ten of them roamed the streets and the Montreal metro on Thursday to distribute leaflets to passers-by in order to raise awareness and convince them to join the protest movement.
“Jeff Bezos, the big boss of Amazon, is one of the richest men in the world. He spits on Quebec, on workers here and our working conditions. Amazon shows all employers that it is possible to pile on us. It is not only Amazon workers who are affected, but Quebec as a whole. Let’s not give in! » can we read on the leaflet and on the Facebook and Instagram pages “Here, we boycott Amazon” opened in the morning by the small group.
They therefore call on Quebecers to immediately boycott the online commerce giant. How ? By simply stopping purchasing on the platform and unsubscribing from Prime Video, a streaming platform.
“As they say, there is strength in numbers. We need to mobilize so that Amazon understands that such behavior does not happen here. The company cannot set up here and leave when the employees want to assert their rights. It doesn’t work like that,” insists Louisa Worrell.
Through this gesture, the protesters hope that the American company will reverse course and keep all of its sites open.
“I have friends who worked at Amazon who find themselves out of work. I myself was hoping to find a place there. We have to save all these jobs,” insists the 35-year-old mother, who has been looking for a job for eight months. “There were layoffs at Telus, I lost my job. I know what the job market is like at the moment, it’s very difficult to find a place. »
-A movement that is growing
In a few hours on Thursday, several hundred people had already joined the mobilization against Amazon on social networks. On the ground, the reaction is just as good, confirms Louisa Worrell. His group will also resume raising awareness in Montreal and other cities in the coming days.
“It’s great to see, lots of people support us. In fact, many had already made the decision [mercredi] to draw a line under Amazon,” she rejoices.
This is the case of Robert Mager. This Quebec resident was already questioning his use — a few times a year — of the online platform to make certain purchases. “I realized it was harmful to local purchasing. But there, seeing Amazon close its centers in Quebec and lay off so many people, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” testifies the retired professor from Laval University, who has since closed his Amazon Prime account and promises to never buy on the platform again.
“I hope people will get on board. We have come so far on the path to individualism and acceptance of the rules of capitalism. We need to wake up. Morally, we cannot accept this. »
A sustainable movement?
Maryse Côté-Hamel, professor of consumer science at Laval University, thinks that the boycott risks running out of steam quickly.
“Angry consumers are often motivated at first but reality quickly sets in. […] Amazon is fast, easy and often cheaper than elsewhere. Not to mention that we find products there that we sometimes find nowhere else,” she emphasizes.
Amazon has an undeniable advantage over its competitors. The platform has become essential for many. However, it is “very difficult for a consumer to change their purchasing habits in the long term,” notes the professor, drawing on a number of studies on the subject.
“Perhaps some will be determined enough to at least greatly reduce their purchases. “It’s already more likely,” she adds.
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