NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a City Council proposal that would require Amazon and other large delivery operators to directly employ workers who handle last-mile deliveries, putting the mayor at odds with Amazon and businesses that rely on its delivery network.
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The Delivery Protection Act would limit the use of subcontractors for key warehouse and delivery operations and require covered companies to put those workers on their own payrolls.
Mamdani said Monday that the proposal would give delivery workers greater protections and make major corporations more accountable for the conditions surrounding their operations.
Amazon has warned that the legislation could fundamentally change its New York delivery network and lead the company to move some operations outside the city.
The company says that could jeopardize thousands of jobs at local delivery businesses and make deliveries to New Yorkers slower and more expensive.
Amazon currently works with dozens of independent Delivery Service Partners in the city, collectively employing more than 5,000 people. The company says those businesses could be undermined if the direct-hiring requirement takes effect.
An economic analysis cited by opponents estimated that the legislation could cost the average New York household hundreds of additional dollars annually for deliveries. The estimate is disputed and would depend on how companies respond to the new requirements.
Business groups and delivery operators have also raised concerns about the impact on small companies that contract with Amazon.
Rudy Cazares, who operates an Amazon delivery company and also works as a FedEx contractor, said the proposed rules could force him to close his business. He said his company employs about 130 workers and provides full- and part-time jobs with benefits.
Supporters of the legislation, including the Teamsters, argue that delivery companies should be directly responsible for workers performing essential parts of their business rather than relying on layers of subcontractors.
The New York Delivers coalition, which opposes the bill, planned a demonstration in East Harlem featuring delivery workers and small-business owners who say the measure threatens their jobs and businesses.
The coalition estimates that up to 10,000 delivery positions could be affected.
The debate has placed Mamdani alongside organized labor in a growing fight over how packages are delivered throughout New York City.
City officials have said lawmakers should examine possible unintended consequences before adopting the measure, while the City Council continues to consider the legislation.
a true Communist against businessess and capitolism
He couldn’t care less about the small businesses and the workers. As long as he can stick it to the evil billionaires.
May he have a missa meshuna bekorov.
Filthy rich parents, Soros backed ,Spoiled, failed rapper. Now finishing what daddy started on 9 11.
If a business finds it too expensive to supply a service then they should drop that service. If Amazon pulls out then let’s see what those New Yorkers that elected the Mayor will do for online shopping delivery. Drive to a distribution center and pick up their own packages? Pay DoorDash or Uber to pick it up? Government dictating business practices is not good. Municipal services are generally the poorest quality as they have no incentive. Think DMV or permitting.
And we will pay more, basically another tax for New Yorkers.
Comrade what’s wrong this is what you voted for……
The word teamsters said it all. They what those union dues from employees. $$$
the teamsters are hardly impartial – it would create 10,000 new, dues-paying members for them. paid for, as always, by the consumers. isn’t socialism grand!
MadManI is really quite radical, isn’t he??
This will make them be replaced by drones a lot faster
In a way it’s ok. Right now there are twenty five per cent less black people in the crown heights areas due to high rents. Crime has gotten down. Now if Mamdani makes all the black drivers of Amazon lose their jobs then they will move from ny to other states to do their Amazon deliveries. It will make more room for the Frum increasing population and give us more housing.
Oh my stars. How audacious for the mayor of a city to implement a policy that supports workers. Ten years ago, nobody needed a pack of chewing gum in 2 hours, and nobody needs that now. Convenience is nice, but if your business model can’t provide that in a way that’s fair to workers then your business shouldn’t exist and maybe people can just wait or go to the store that otherwise would be employing the same people that are currently being taken advantage of as independent contractors. That just sounds like a reasonable regulation.