Amazon insists these amazing delivery drivers don’t really work for Amazon

Thursday, Motherboard mentioned Amazon delivery drivers in Palmdale, California They went on strike, a first for the company. drivers who United with Teamsters in April and was recognized by Amazon as a “Delivery Service Partner” (DSP) Battle-tested strategies in May, which claim better pay and better safety conditions. The 84 striking workers walked out on Thursday.

MotherboardThe original article used the headline “Amazon Delivery Drivers Get Out on First-Ever Driver Strike”. Then, an Amazon representative emailed the post to ask them to change their address. from Motherboardarticle:

“I’m writing to ask if you’d be open to updating your headline for the story you just posted,” the spokesperson wrote. “It reads that these drivers are “Amazon drivers” which is inaccurate since they are powered by battle tested strategies. Can you update the title to read “Drivers Provided to Amazon”?”

But Amazon, which uses contractor workers for the majority of its fleet, exercises a great deal of control over those people who don’t. Technically employment. To get past the fact that they wear Amazon clothes and usually drive delivery trucks wrapped in Amazon artwork, the company has tightly controlled what form its drivers are allowed to appear in and posted online, exercised control over when drivers could return if conditions were unsafe, and enforced force. Drivers must accept the use of AI monitoring.

Although these drivers wear Amazon uniforms, drive Amazon trucks, identify themselves as Amazon employees, are constantly watched and monitored by Amazon managers, and receive their work assignments from Amazon, Amazon has attempted to legally separate itself from these employees through a “service Dummy Connect” partner (“DSP”) structure. Under this DSP structure, Amazon finds individuals—often with little or no experience running a business—and purports to help those individuals “start” the business, all while selling a fictitious illusion.

The complaint also alleges that Amazon provides branded trucks and uniforms, sets targets and terms, unilaterally terminates employees, and much more. According to the document, Battle-Tested Strategies also operates out of the same Amazon facility, DAX8, as three “similarly captive” DSPs.

The document also describes the conditions drivers face, which include driving without air conditioning in the “inhuman heat” of the desert, where temperatures can reach 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside the trucks, the drivers talk to Motherboard Describe indoor temperatures of over 130 degrees that feel “like you’re entering an oven.”

Such circumstances are not uncommon in the delivery world. In fact, last week, while representing more than 340,000 drivers, the Teamsters Record an initial deal To put air conditioners – air conditioners! – In all UPS owned small parcel delivery vehicles.