Amazon has reportedly laid off over 150 unionized delivery drivers in New York, sparking protests outside its Queens warehouse. The drivers, who are members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, claim that the layoffs are retaliatory after they participated in a large Amazon workers’ strike last December. The strike, which involved nearly 10,000 Amazon workers across the US, aimed to pressure the company to negotiate a fair contract and address concerns such as low wages, workplace safety issues, and alleged “illegal union busting.”

The affected drivers work at Amazon’s DBK4 delivery station, which unionized with the Teamsters last September. According to the union, Amazon’s decision to lay off the drivers is a direct response to their participation in the strike and is therefore illegal. Randy Korgan, director of the Teamsters’ Amazon division, stated that the union is prepared to take action to protect its members and hold Amazon accountable for its actions.

Amazon, however, maintains that it did not “fire” the workers, but rather cancelled contracts with a subcontractor, Cornucopia, that employed the drivers. The company claims that it does not directly employ the drivers, but the Teamsters argue that this is a “phony shell game” and that Amazon exerts significant control over the workers’ conditions. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has previously determined that Amazon is a joint employer with its subcontractors, making it liable for the treatment of its workers.

The dispute highlights ongoing concerns about pay and working conditions at Amazon, as well as allegations of union busting. A 2021 report found that the rate of serious injuries at Amazon warehouses is nearly 80% higher than at other companies’ facilities. The situation is being closely watched, with the Teamsters and other unions pushing for greater accountability and better treatment of Amazon’s workers. As the conflict escalates, it remains to be seen how Amazon will respond to the union’s demands and the NLRB’s rulings.