A Canadian union that successfully unionized one warehouse accused the company of closing its sites to fend off organizing efforts in the region.

Amazon has announced plans to close all of its Quebec facilities, laying off 1,700 permanent employees, months after workers in Laval, Que., made history by unionizing. Experts say the move could prompt legal challenges under Quebec labour laws.

The online retail giant said the move was not linked to recent unionization efforts by workers in the Canadian province.