Teamsters: New Union Rights for Truckers in Victory Against Amazon

NLRB Says Amazon Must Work with Drivers’ Union

Amazon delivery drivers in Palmdale, California, have won a huge victory. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Amazon must treat these drivers as its employees. This means Amazon has to recognize their union and work with the Teamsters Union. This decision could help Amazon delivery drivers all over the U.S. join the Teamsters.

The NLRB found that Amazon broke many labor laws at its Palmdale facility. Amazon didn’t recognize the union, refused to negotiate, and threatened workers with losing their jobs. Amazon also used security guards to scare workers. Because of these actions, the NLRB will file a complaint against Amazon, which could lead to a trial.

Amazon Faces Big Challenges

This ruling is a big problem for Amazon. Amazon has always said it is not the direct employer of its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) drivers. But the NLRB says Amazon does control these drivers. There are about 280,000 DSP drivers in the U.S., and this decision could help many of them join unions.

The decision has encouraged Amazon workers everywhere. Amazon drivers in Palmdale were the first to form a union in April 2023. Even though Amazon tried to shut them down, the drivers kept fighting. They have been on strike since June 2023 to protest against how Amazon treats them.

Impact of the Union Rights Decision

The win in Palmdale has inspired other Amazon workers to act. Drivers in Skokie, Illinois, went on strike in June 2024, demanding better pay and safer working conditions. Workers across the country are now standing up and joining together for better treatment.

Amazon’s DSP program started in 2018 and made the company one of the biggest delivery services in the U.S. But this decision challenges how Amazon uses DSPs to avoid being the direct employer. The NLRB’s ruling says that Amazon controls the drivers’ work, which makes Amazon their employer.