A group of Amazon delivery drivers went on strike at the South Gate DAX7 Amazon sorting center. Police were involved as the Amazon vehicle was stopped.
Zoe Cranfield | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
Amazon The National Labor Relations Board should be considered a “joint employer” for some of its contracted delivery drivers, a regional director said Wednesday.
The NLRB is reviewing two unfair labor practice charges filed in January involving Amazon’s treatment of some drivers at its Atlanta warehouse, known as DAT6. While Amazon has long hired third-party drivers to handle its growing volume of deliveries, the NLRB’s regional director found that Amazon co-hired drivers at the location who worked for a contractor called MJB Logistics.
Amazon has fought to avoid being designated a joint employer for its vast network of contracted delivery companies. Lawmakers and labor groups including the Teamsters union have disputed the company’s characterization that drivers wear Amazon-branded uniforms, drive Amazon-branded trucks and have their schedules and performance expectations set by the company.
The NLRB’s decision could force Amazon to bargain with workers seeking to unionize. The announcement comes after NLRB officials A similar ruling was made last monthfound that Amazon was a joint employer for some of its subcontracted drivers at its Palmdale, Calif., facility.
Over the past year, the Teamsters union has stepped up its efforts to organize Amazon delivery and warehouse workers. Union forms Amazon unit 2021 Support and finance the organizational efforts of company employees. Since then, it has led multiple strikes at Amazon delivery facilities, while a labor group at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, N.Y. Opt in June with truckers.
exist April 2023Drivers who work for Battle Tested Strategies say Amazon canceled their contracts after they voted to join the Teamsters union. Amazon denied that, saying it terminated the contract before the union pushed for it.
In Wednesday’s ruling, the National Labor Relations Board also found that Amazon threatened Atlanta drivers with shutting down their site if they joined a union, illegally made intimidating comments and gave the impression that the facility was under surveillance.
NLRB spokesperson Kayla Blado said in an email that the board’s decisions in Atlanta and Palmdale were not board decisions. Rather, it is the first step in a lawsuit filed by the agency’s general counsel over unfair labor practice charges. If the parties fail to reach a settlement, a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge will schedule a hearing. Either party can appeal the judge’s decision to the NLRB Board and further to federal court.
Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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