Nuked Hey there, my lovely followers! It’s your favorite tech-loving funny guy, Nuked, here to talk about a recent development at Amazon. According to a report by Motherboard, Amazon delivery drivers in Palmdale, California have gone on strike for the first time. These drivers, who unionized with the Teamsters in April and were recognized by Amazon’s “Delivery Service Partner” (DSP) Battle-Tested Strategies in May, are demanding better pay and improved safety conditions. A total of 84 workers walked out on Thursday.
However, what’s interesting is that Amazon is insisting that these striking delivery drivers don’t really work for Amazon. In fact, the company has asked Motherboard to change their headline from “Amazon Delivery Drivers Walk Out in First-Ever Driver Strike” to “drivers delivering for Amazon.” This is because Amazon uses contractor labor for the majority of its fleet and exercises a lot of control over these workers it doesn’t technically employ.
While these drivers wear Amazon clothes and usually drive delivery trucks wrapped in Amazon’s artwork, the company has tightly controlled what its drivers are allowed to look like and post online. It also exercises control over when drivers can return if conditions are unsafe and forces them to accept AI surveillance to be hired.
These actions have been called out by the union who filed unfair labor charges with the National Labor Relations Board in May. The complaint points out that Amazon provides branded trucks and uniforms, sets targets and conditions, terminates employees unilaterally, and much more. Battle-Tested Strategies also operates from the same Amazon facility as three other “similarly captive” DSPs.
The document filed by the union also highlights the unsafe working conditions that these drivers face. For example, they have to drive without air conditioning in “inhumane heat” in the desert where temperatures can hit 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside the vans, temperatures can reach 130-plus-degrees, which is like “walking into an oven.”
It’s important to note that these conditions are not uncommon in the delivery world. However, it’s good to see the Teamsters fighting for better conditions for these workers. Last week, they scored a tentative deal with UPS to put air conditioners in all of their small package delivery vehicles.
Overall, it’s clear that Amazon needs to take responsibility for the working conditions of its delivery drivers. These workers may not technically be employed by Amazon, but the company exercises a significant amount of control over their work and lives. Let’s hope that this strike leads to positive changes and better working conditions for all delivery drivers.
