They learned about it in early August in a parking lot among delivery vans. Employees of Globe Express, Amazon’s subcontractor for parcel deliveries leaving the Fontaine warehouse, in the Territoire de Belfort, will no longer be able to work on this site from September 1. Amazon has terminated its contract with their employerbecause there are not enough parcels to deliver for all service providers.
The American platform would have incorrectly estimated the number of packages passing through this warehouse, according to the management of Globe Express. The site opened in November 2021, just before the end of the year holidays – a period of high activity for deliveries. At that time, Amazon signed contracts with a dozen subcontractors, including Globe Express. Initially, the transport company called on some 80 interim deliverers, but the volume of deliveries decreased over the months. In April, the provider ends up hire about fifteen employees on permanent contracts. Eventually, the delivery company loses its contract with Amazon at the Fontaine site because there are too many delivery people for too few packages. Only four service providers maintain the Amazon market in the Territoire de Belfort.
A letter of transfer without prior exchanges
In mid-August, Romain*, a Globe Express deliverer, received a transfer letter, which France Bleu was able to consult. The letter is signed by Sylvie Leclercq, the company’s director of human resources. It is written there: “Following the discussions you had with your line manager Mr. Adérito Damiao concerning the mobility clause of article 9 of your employment contract, we confirm that from September 1, 2022, you will be assigned 100% to the agency located at 157, route de Thionville, 57140 Woippy.” This site is located north of Metz, 250 kilometers from Fontaine, a three-hour drive. Romain claims that he has never met Adérito Damiao, who is Globe Express’ division manager in charge of relations with Amazon, and that he has never spoken to him. Joined by France Bleu, this manager assures that he went to the Fontaine site on July 20, but he recognizes that he “couldn’t see everyone”.
Initially, Globe Express offered two solutions to its employees: work on the site near Metz or resign to find a local job with the competition. Three employees have already left their jobs to join the other delivery companies that subcontract for Amazon in Fontaine. “These providers would not take us on permanent contracts and there is a two-month trial period, but they cannot take everyone”, explains Romain who inquired. For him, that would mean a return to precariousness after only a few months on a permanent contract. Which is inconceivable for this father who has just sold his house to buy another. Without CDI, no mortgage.
Like Romain, seven other employees refuse to work at Woippy or to resign to try the adventure with a competitor. “We are marinated to push us to resign”, remarks Roman. According to him, the division manager of Globe express would have entrusted to a team leader that the company had the means to wait. Words denied by Adérito Damiao. Sylvie Leclercq ensures that employees who wish can be redeployed to the Strasbourg or Dijon sites. Since receiving his transfer letter, Romain has only hoped for one thing: obtain a dismissal to open their rights to unemployment while waiting to find another job. After having been contacted by a trade unionist, the director of human resources affirms, this Thursday, August 25, that she will quickly contact the last eight employees of the site to launch the procedures for dismissal for personal reasons.
*the first name has been changed at the request of the person