Amazon drivers are endangered by their own delivery trucks. It’s obvious how much Amazon cares about their drivers by the state of their vehicles (see pictures below): broken doors and panels, missing lug nuts on wheels, haphazard fixes, often with the same tape workers use to secure cardboard boxes.
It’s no surprise that Amazon has more labor law violations than any other company in New York City. However, Amazon won’t even call Amazon drivers their employees, instead setting up fake subcontractors to dodge any responsibility for the danger they pose for their drivers or our communities.
We need the NYC Council to take action. Not only is Amazon endangering their own workers, they are hurting our communities as well – all while skirting accountability. With the dramatic rise in package deliveries in NYC, “Last Mile” facilities are fueling more crashes, congestion, and pollution. Truck-related crashes increased more than doubled in the areas around these facilities. This is a public health and safety crisis.
We’re calling for the passage of the Delivery Protection Act so we can hold abusive delivery companies like Amazon accountable, protect workers, and increase street safety.
Broken Doors
Haphazard Fixes
Broken Panels
Missing Lug Nuts on Wheels
How does Amazon get away with this?
Amazon hides behind fake sub-contractors through Delivery Service Providers (DSPs) to evade responsibility for unsafe working conditions and the dangers they create on our streets.
By subcontracting the final deliveries to customers, Amazon has freed itself of all of the liability and risk of this most expensive part of its business. If an Amazon van is responsible for a serious traffic crash, the victim may sue Amazon for damages, but Amazon argues only the DSP is to blame.
Amazon can’t disclaim any liability for the delivery operations, while exercising total control over them.
The Delivery Protection Act (Intro 518) would require Amazon and other companies to directly employ their delivery drivers. It would also require a license for businesses like Amazon to operate in New York, which could be revoked if the company violates the law.
