Delivery drivers working under Amazon’s “Delivery Service Partner” (DSP) program have launched a strike across several US states, demanding improved working conditions, higher wages, and formal recognition as employees of Amazon.
The strike, backed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, took place at Amazon delivery hubs in New York, Illinois, Georgia, and California.
The action comes amid a broader push for worker rights and union recognition at Amazon, with the Teamsters accusing the company of treating drivers as “independent contractors” despite controlling their work conditions. The company, however, maintains that these drivers are employees of independent third-party companies and not Amazon itself.
The primary grievances of the striking workers center on excessive workloads, inadequate pay, and a lack of support for drivers. Drivers report delivering as many as 400 packages a day, often working 12-hour shifts with minimal breaks. Workers claim that unrealistic delivery quotas, constant monitoring of their driving habits, and physical strain are taking a toll on their health and well-being.
“The pay needs to be better. The health insurance needs to be better,” said Thomas Hickman, a driver in Georgia.
He also called for the use of helpers for large delivery routes, especially when tasked with delivering hundreds of packages in a single shift.
Samantha Thomas, another driver, emphasized that the workers’ demands are not unreasonable. “We want for the company to care about us more, so that we can care more about the job we’re doing and show up better for this job,” she said.
Ash’shura Brooks, a driver in Illinois, highlighted the physical and mental toll of the job. Recalling a time she was forced to work during freezing temperatures, Brooks said:
“You either sacrifice your safety in order to get things done faster, or you sacrifice your job in order to do things more safely.”
At the heart of the conflict is the status of the delivery drivers. Despite wearing Amazon uniforms, driving Amazon-branded vans, and delivering only Amazon packages, drivers are not classified as Amazon employees. Instead, they work for smaller, third-party “Delivery Service Partners” (DSPs) under contract with Amazon.
The Teamsters argue that, in practice, Amazon exercises control over the drivers, from setting delivery quotas to tracking their movements via GPS. They claim that this level of control makes Amazon a “joint employer” and thus responsible for negotiating wages, benefits, and work conditions with the drivers.
Amazon strongly disagrees.
“The Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public — claiming that they represent ‘thousands of Amazon employees and drivers.’ They don’t,” said Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson.
The company maintains that its business model empowers thousands of small business owners to operate their own delivery companies and that it has no obligation to negotiate with drivers.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has taken a more sympathetic stance toward union efforts, arguing that if Amazon exercises sufficient control over DSP drivers, it may indeed have a responsibility to bargain with them. The NLRB has already ruled in at least one instance that drivers should be classified as Amazon employees, not third-party contractors.
The strike began at Amazon’s delivery station DBK4 in Queens, New York, at 6 a.m. on December 19. Over 100 strikers and supporters picketed at the site, disrupting the exit of delivery vans. Strikers chanted “Shut it down!” and tried to stop delivery vans from leaving the facility.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) was called in to manage the crowd and eventually set up barricades to clear a path for vans to exit. Police arrested two individuals: Jogernsyn Cardenas, a driver who had been persuaded by his co-workers to join the strike, and Anthony Rosario, a Teamsters organizer and former UPS driver.
According to witnesses, police swarmed Cardenas’ vehicle after he stopped to listen to striking workers. When he attempted to exit the vehicle, he was arrested amid shouts of “Let him go!” from the crowd.
Anthony Rosario claimed he was following police instructions to let trucks through every two to three minutes when he was detained.
“They just decided to arrest me. At the end of the day, they’re violating not only our First Amendment rights, but they’re violating all the workers’ rights on this picket line,” said Rosario.
The arrests sparked further tension at the picket line, with Teamsters members calling for Cardenas and Rosario to be released. Both were later released with the support of the Teamsters’ legal team.
Amazon has downplayed the strike’s potential impact on holiday deliveries, stating that only a small fraction of its delivery hubs and drivers are involved. The company says its network of hundreds of delivery hubs and thousands of contracted delivery drivers can absorb any disruption caused by the strike.
“What you see here are almost entirely outsiders — not Amazon employees or partners — and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters,” Amazon stated.
The Company suggested that the union’s actions were more about PR than substantive worker demands.
The company has turned to alternative delivery methods, such as Amazon Flex, where individuals use their own vehicles to make deliveries, and rerouting deliveries through other nearby hubs.
This is not the first time Amazon has faced labor unrest. Warehouse workers at Amazon’s JFK8 fulfillment center in Staten Island voted to unionize in 2022, a landmark victory for labor advocates. However, Amazon has not recognized the union or entered into contract negotiations with those workers, and the dispute is ongoing.
With the presidential transition looming, unions fear that the NLRB’s more union-friendly approach under President Biden may change under President-elect Donald Trump. Given Amazon’s previous legal challenges to the NLRB’s authority, labor leaders are calling for urgent action before the new administration takes office.
The strike could continue into Christmas week, but it’s unclear how much impact it will have on Amazon’s operations. The company has already managed to keep its hubs operating and vans moving, though the picket lines have delayed deliveries at several key sites.
Amazon’s stance remains firm: the company will not negotiate with the Teamsters or recognize delivery drivers as its employees. For workers like Antonio Lopez, a driver for over three years, the strike represents a fight for basic dignity.
“Anywhere is hard work, but people deserve to be paid for their hard work,” Lopez said.
With support from the Teamsters and growing public awareness, the striking drivers hope that the holiday shopping season will put pressure on Amazon to negotiate. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien put it bluntly:
“If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed.”
Whether or not this strike results in concessions from Amazon, it highlights the ongoing debate over gig economy labor rights, employee classification, and corporate responsibility. For drivers like Thomas Hickman, who works 12-hour shifts delivering 400 packages, the fight is about more than wages; it’s about respect.
“We gotta keep fighting,” said Cardenas after his release from police custody. “If we don’t fight, we’re not gonna get more money and more benefits.”
With input from CNN, the New York Times, and In These Times.
