Amazon to shut 3 UK warehouses in bid to cut costs; 1,200 jobs impacted.

Three UK warehouses will be closed by Amazon in a move that could affect 1,200 jobs.

According to a corporate representative, closure proposals have been made for locations in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster, and Gourock in the west of Scotland.

The retail behemoth announced that positions at other Amazon locations will be offered to employees at the sites.

It also disclosed plans for two brand-new, significant fulfillment centers in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, and Peddimore, West Midlands.

Over the next three years, Amazon anticipates that the new fulfillment centers will generate 2,500 additional jobs.

‘We’re continually analyzing our network to make sure it suits our business goals and to improve the experience for our staff and customers,’ a company representative said.

We may close older locations as part of this endeavor, upgrade current facilities, or build new locations. We have also started a survey on the idea of closing three fulfillment centers in 2023.

Over the next three years, we also want to open two new fulfillment centers, producing 2,500 new employees.

We are dedicated to our customers, employees, and communities across the UK, and we will provide the opportunity for relocation to other sites to all impacted employees through site closure consultations.

At its Hemel Hempstead facility, where 500 people work Amazon will give all of them jobs at its adjacent Dunstable warehouse or other places.

The company aims to shift the 400 or so employees from its Balby Carr Bank location in Doncaster to its two other fulfillment centers at Doncaster’s iPort for the discussions.

About 300 employees who are currently stationed at the Gourock location will also be impacted by the proposals.

As part of efforts to find new employment, the company promised to provide opportunities for personnel to retrain and reskill.

The revelation was a “severe blow to Gourock, Inverclyde, and Scotland,” according to SNP MP for Inverclyde Ronnie Cowan.

‘Among the figure crunching we must remember that 300 families are touched by the decision,’ he added in a statement.

They will be under a great deal of stress, therefore we must do everything we can to support them during this extremely trying period by helping them obtain productive jobs.

It goes without saying that this will be a hammer blow to the personnel and their families during a time of a cost-of-living crisis, he continued.

“Amazon has stated that it will endeavor to re-deploy employees, but has not as of yet made a concrete commitment to me.”

Now that this decision has been made, “I now want to see both the UK and Scottish governments act to see what measures may be implemented.”

One of the biggest employers in the district, which is among Scotland’s most impoverished, is the Gourock complex at Faulds Park, which was established in 2004.

This is a genuine kick in the teeth for Amazon personnel who worked themselves to exhaustion during the holiday rush, according to Steve Garelick, a GMB union organizer.

‘Hard-up Local employees who might not be able to accept jobs so distant from where they live cannot be expected to suddenly uproot and go to a new fulfillment center that may be many miles away.

‘Amazon is failing in part because of the high costs associated with personnel turnover brought on by the company’s long-standing workplace safety problems.

Amazon is facing significant difficulties, so we want to preserve and improve that employment.

The company should communicate with the workforce through the union, Mr. Garelick urged.

Sir Mike Penning, a Conservative member of parliament for Hemel Hempstead, expressed his sadness at the news that Amazon would be closing its Maylands fulfillment center in April.

The loss of such a well-known employer is heartbreaking for Hemel Hempstead, according to the news.

“I realize that all staff will be given the opportunity to work at a different location, many of which are in Dunstable, but for many employees, relocating is not an option.

“Everyone is currently facing a challenging economic scenario; losing your work is not a good time,”

I am fully aware that 500 local families will be in shock today and that their futures are in jeopardy, he continued. I feel so bad for them.

It follows Amazon’s announcement last week that it will be eliminating 18,000 jobs globally in an effort to reduce expenses.

Although specifics have not been disclosed, it is believed that job losses will affect the UK and that it will be the greatest layoff program in the company’s history.

Andy Jassy, the CEO of Amazon, stated that the decision was made mostly due to the “uncertain economy” and that the impacted employees would be informed this month.

The corporation, which employs over 1.5 million people worldwide, issued a job cut warning in November without providing a specific number, but it did state that more positions would need to be eliminated as part of a thorough analysis of its operations.

According to Amazon, positions across all of its stores, including Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go, as well as its human resources function, will be most impacted.