New York City – Amazon Teamsters rallied at New York City Hall last week in support of the Delivery Protection Act. This important NYC legislation has been introduced by Council Member Tiffany Cabán (Democrat-22nd District) and would protect drivers working for Amazon. The bill would ban Amazon’s exploitative Delivery Service Provider (DSP) model in the city. It would also include licensing requirements for facilities and prohibit the use of third-party subcontractors for employment.
“The Teamsters will not allow Amazon to hide behind a ‘smoke-and-mirrors’ subcontracting scheme to exploit Workers and engage in illegal Union-Busting,” said Randy Korgan, who serves as Director of the Teamsters Amazon Division. “The Delivery Protection Act is the blueprint for fighting back against Amazon’s greed and obstruction. Thank you, Council Member Cabán, for showing the rest of the country how we can deliver for Amazon Workers.”
Council Member Cabán said: “For too long, companies like Amazon have gotten away with terrible conditions in their last-mile facilities, while using subcontractors to dodge responsibility for unsafe delivery conditions and dangerous streets. The Delivery Protection Act will end that charade. It forces these companies to take responsibility for the conditions their delivery services create and treat Delivery Workers as the Essential Workers they are, not as disposable labor. This Bill is a ‘game-changer’ for Workers in New York and for every City fighting to hold corporate giants accountable. We’re proud to stand with the Teamsters in the fight for accountability, for safety and for fairness.”
Earlier this month, Amazon unilaterally and illegally fired more than 100 Unionized Drivers at the DBK4 Facility in Maspeth, Queens.
The Teamsters are calling on the New York City Council to pass the Delivery Protection Act this year in support of Delivery Drivers and Warehouse Workers.
“I wear an Amazon uniform, drive an Amazon truck and deliver Amazon packages – but Amazon wants to profit off my labor without having the responsibilities any other employer has,” said Lamont Hopewell, an Amazon Driver at the DBK4 warehouse. “The Delivery Protection Act will stop Amazon’s abusive business practices and make our communities safer. The New York City Council needs to pass this important legislation.”
