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submitted 1 year ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

Amazon Says It Doesn't 'Employ' Drivers, But Records Show It Hired Firms to Prevent Them From Unionizing::Amazon spent $14.2 million total on anti-union consulting in 2022, filings with the Department of Labor show.

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[-] dunning_cougar@waveform.social 109 points 1 year ago

Then who or what is driving the delivery trucks that say Amazon on the side?

[-] krische@lemmy.world 158 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Independent contractors. They're like employees in almost every way except the legal way.

[-] DrZoidberg@sh.itjust.works 55 points 1 year ago

I've had Amazon packages delivered by some dude wearing basketball shorts and a t-shirt driving a random Toyota Corolla. It's like they use Uber for delivery.

[-] buckykat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 48 points 1 year ago

Anything to keep the union out

[-] Nhickz@lemmy.one 19 points 1 year ago

Thats an amazon flex driver , its like a much more strict uber eats , they only hire so many flex drivers , but it works similar to uber , pick your hours , they normaly have a route between 1-3 hours , around 25-100 packages , used to be more , but they lowered it . Amazon has delivery service providers for the main vans , they are "self made companies" . Amazon provides the initial cash to start them , normaly charges them for the vans , and has nearly all controle over them . They live in a legal gray area , most have few enough "employees" to skirt large business laws .

[-] Nommer@sh.itjust.works 17 points 1 year ago

They do. I have a friend that makes some side cash delivering for them in his personal vehicle.

[-] _finger_@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

Then it should be even easier to unionize

[-] irotsoma@lemmy.world 27 points 1 year ago

Can't unionize a workplace when you're the owner and only employee. That's how the law treats "independent contractors".

[-] Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de 22 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I kinda don't like how unions are a regulated legal thing... Why are they not just a a private club, where people collectively agree to not take shit conditions anymore? Why can't all independent contractors go on strike tomorrow?

[-] quicksand@lemm.ee 11 points 1 year ago

I agree. I don't want to take power from the existing unions, but they should be able to exist in some less official capacity as well. 1st amendment says freedom of association, right?

[-] fluxion@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

That's what they are trying to do, and why Amazon is paying multiple firms to fuck with them over it.

[-] LukeMedia@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Unions are part of a free labor market, and any attempt to bust them is an attempt to prevent a free economy. Funny how corporations have convinced so many that's it's a bad thing

[-] nsfw_alt_2023@lemmynsfw.com 7 points 1 year ago

National Taxi Workers' Alliance says hello

Counter their bullshit with your own. "We're not a union, we're a guild."

[-] Earthwormjim91@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Usually not independent contractors. Amazon has contracts with other regional companies to do local deliveries and drivers are employees of these smaller companies.

this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2023
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