Amazon Delivery Workers Recognized as Employees by NLRB

In a recent decision by the National Labor Relations Board, workers at a company that delivered packages for Amazon were officially recognized as employees of the e-commerce giant. This ruling came as a rejection of Amazon’s claim that they were not responsible for the subcontractor’s staff. The regional director of the NLRB in Los Angeles determined that there was merit to the accusations made by the delivery workers. They claimed that Amazon unlawfully refused to recognize their decision to unionize and failed to negotiate with the union over workplace issues.

The NLRB also found that Amazon had engaged in several unlawful behaviors, including threatening employees, requiring workers to attend meetings meant to disparage union activity, and failing to provide requested information to the union. The delivery company, Battle-Tested Strategies, operating out of Amazon’s DAX8 fulfillment center in Palmdale, California, had its contract terminated by Amazon, which led to the loss of jobs for 84 drivers who delivered Amazon packages.

The findings of the NLRB marked a significant win for the Teamsters union officials who had been challenging Amazon’s longstanding stance that they did not have control over their subcontracted drivers and therefore held no legal responsibility for their working conditions. This ruling may set a precedent for delivery drivers elsewhere to unionize and demand negotiations with Amazon regarding their working conditions.

Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien applauded the NLRB’s decision, stating that Amazon drivers had taken their future into their own hands and won a monumental determination that Amazon was legally obligated to bargain with its drivers over their working conditions. He emphasized that this victory could pave the way for other Amazon workers across the country to demand fair treatment and negotiation rights.

While the NLRB dismissed some of the Teamsters’ claims, an Amazon spokesperson, Eileen Hards, stated that most of the significant claims made by the union were dismissed. She expressed Amazon’s position that there was no merit to the Teamsters’ allegations, and they expected any remaining claims to be dismissed as well.

Protests and Unity

Since the termination of the Battle-Tested Strategies drivers, the Teamsters have been holding protests at the Palmdale facility and other Amazon warehouses nationwide. Driver Jessie Moreno from Palmdale emphasized the importance of Amazon taking responsibility for low wages and unsafe working conditions. The union is uniting Amazon workers across the country to demand fair treatment and improved working conditions.

The NLRB’s ruling represents the first step in the process of litigating allegations of unfair labor practices. If Amazon and the Teamsters do not reach a settlement, the labor agency will issue a formal complaint based on its findings. The case would then be heard by an administrative law judge, who could order the company to implement remedies. Any decision made by the judge could be appealed to the labor board in Washington.