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.

    • krische@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

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

      • DrZoidberg@sh.itjust.works
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        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.

        • Nhickz@lemmy.one
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          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
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          1 year ago

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

        • irotsoma@lemmy.world
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          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
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            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
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              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
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                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
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                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

      • Earthwormjim91@lemmy.world
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        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.