Amazon has reportedly laid off more than 150 unionized delivery drivers in New York, prompting protests outside its Queens warehouse. The drivers, members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, say the layoffs are retaliatory for their participation in a massive Amazon workers’ strike last December. That strike involved nearly 10,000 Amazon employees nationwide and sought a fair contract, higher wages, improved workplace safety, and an end to alleged illegal union‑busting.
The affected drivers work at Amazon’s DBK4 delivery station, which unionized with the Teamsters in September. The union argues that Amazon’s decision to lay off the drivers is a direct response to the strike and therefore illegal. Randy Korgan, director of the Teamsters’ Amazon division, said the union is prepared to take action to protect its members and hold Amazon accountable.
Amazon maintains that it did not “fire” the workers; instead, it cancelled contracts with a subcontractor, Cornucopia, that employed the drivers. The company claims it does not directly employ the drivers, but the Teamsters describe this as a “phony shell game,” asserting that Amazon exerts significant control over the workers’ conditions. The National Labor Relations Board has previously ruled that Amazon is a joint employer with its subcontractors, making it liable for how its workers are treated.
The dispute underscores ongoing concerns about pay, working conditions, and alleged union‑busting at Amazon. 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 as the Teamsters and other unions push 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.
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