NYC Mayor Endorses Bill Requiring Amazon to Hire Drivers

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his support for the Delivery Protection Act, a City Council measure that would require distribution companies such as Amazon and FedEx to hire delivery workers directly. Sponsored by Councilwoman Tiffany L. Cabán, the legislation aims to eliminate the use of third-party subcontractors, which Mamdani argues allows corporations to avoid accountability and exploit workers.

The act would grant the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection regulatory power over last-mile warehouse operators through increased licensing requirements. Supporters, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, argue the measure is necessary to protect worker safety and the right to organize.

Amazon and the New York Delivers Coalition, a group representing 50 small businesses, oppose the bill. Amazon claims the mandate would prohibit agreements with more than 40 local Delivery Service Partners, potentially jeopardizing over 5,000 jobs and forcing the company to relocate distribution hubs outside the city. Opponents further argue the law would increase consumer costs and slow delivery services. The City Council is currently evaluating the bill following a hearing held last spring; if passed, New York would be the first U.S. city to regulate these last-mile operations.