Amazon illegally refused to bargain with drivers’ union, NLRB alleges

Amazon has yet to comment on the NLRB charges.

Workers’ fight for $25/hour continues

After the merit ruling, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien boasted in a press release that striking drivers had “paved the way for every other Amazon worker in the country to demand what they deserve and to get Amazon to the bargaining table.”

Now more workers are joining Teamsters, seemingly impressed by the results they’ve achieved so far. On Wednesday, over 100 Amazon warehouse workers joined Teamsters, becoming the “first-ever group of Amazon warehouse workers to demand union recognition outside of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election process,” Teamsters said in a press release.

Warehouse workers had also secured a substantial financial offering from Amazon in September, when Amazon invested $2.2 billion to raise the base salaries of hourly fulfillment workers to more than $22 an hour, and more than $29 an hour including benefits. But workers told Ars that they only got that raise because of their organizing, promising, “we’ll keep fighting until we reach $25.”

Amazon has previously pushed back on the NLRB determination that it’s a joint employer, Reuters noted, because it allegedly “does not have enough control over drivers’ working conditions.”

That claim doesn’t seem to gel with workers’ experiences, however, as a proposed class action last year alleged that Amazon was spying on drivers, while Vice reported that footage from Amazon’s invasive in-van surveillance was leaking online.

Amazon will likely dispute the joint employer determination, arguing that only contracting companies like Delivery Service Providers have immediate control over contractors. But if the determination sticks, Amazon may be forced to bargain with all unionized contractors seeking better working conditions.

There’s still a long road ahead of drivers and other Amazon employees fighting to have their unions recognized. In March, Amazon will face an administrative judge who will weigh the evidence against Amazon at a hearing, Reuters reported. After that, the NLRB can review the ruling and it can potentially be appealed in federal court.