Skip to main content

Featured

Wall Street Pauses as Fed Meeting Looms: Futures Hold Steady

U.S. stock futures were little changed on Tuesday as investors awaited the start of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures all hovered near flat, reflecting a cautious mood across Wall Street. The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, but traders are focused on Chair Jerome Powell’s comments and the central bank’s updated economic projections. Markets are looking for clues on when rate cuts might begin in 2024, with inflation cooling but still above the Fed’s long-term target. Recent gains in equities have been fueled by optimism that the Fed’s tightening cycle is over, yet uncertainty remains about how quickly monetary policy will shift toward easing. Until then, investors appear content to hold their positions, waiting for clearer signals from the Fed before making bold moves.

article

Amazon to Close All Quebec Warehouses, Lay Off 1,700 Workers

 

Amazon Canada has announced the closure of all seven of its warehouses in Quebec, resulting in the layoff of approximately 1,700 permanent employees and 250 temporary workers. The decision, which will take effect over the next two months, is part of a strategic move to revert to a third-party delivery model.

The affected facilities include fulfillment centers in Lachine, sorting centers in Coteau-du-Lac and Longueuil, delivery stations in Laval and Lachine, and an AMXL delivery station in Longueuil. Amazon claims that this decision was made to provide more efficient and cost-effective service to customers.

However, the move comes amidst ongoing labor disputes, particularly following the unionization of workers at the Laval warehouse last year. The Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) has condemned the closures, suggesting they are part of an anti-union campaign.

Amazon has assured that it will offer a package including up to 14 weeks' pay and transitional benefits to the impacted employees. Despite this, the CSN plans to challenge the closures, arguing that they violate labor laws.

This decision marks a significant shift in Amazon's operations in Quebec and raises questions about the future of labor relations in the region.




Comments