Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and over two dozen of her colleagues have requested Amazon CEO Andy Jassy to provide information about the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program, as well as several issues, including Amazon’s efforts to evade liability in relation to DSP mistreatment. The senators are also keen to understand why Amazon refuses to negotiate with DSP union representatives.
In terms of working conditions, the senators sought details on under what circumstances a DSP might possess a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number and when an Amazon DSP might operate under an Amazon DOT number. They queried whether Amazon supplied and maintained DSP vehicles, how the company complied with state and federal regulations, and the extent to which it subsidized vehicle and equipment costs.
In July 2023, according to a CNBC report dated July 12, the company faced a complaint lodged with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for its refusal to negotiate with a workers’ union in New York. This complaint centered around a Staten Island warehouse known as JFK8 that voted to join the Amazon Labor Union in April 2022. Despite numerous requests from ALU for contract discussions, CNBC reports that Amazon has declined.
The senators highlighted concerns about drivers’ working conditions:
“An overwhelming body of reporting suggests this system of control without responsibility exacts an awful toll on drivers. Drivers have been made to work in extreme heat without air conditioning, forced to make deliveries in the snow without proper safety equipment like snow tires or chains, and are often pressured to skip breaks. In some instances, drivers have been forced to work for nearly twelve hours without access to a restroom. In 2021, researchers used publicly disclosed OSHA 300A summary data to estimate that DSP drivers were injured at a rate of 18.3 injuries per 100 workers in 2021.”
Meanwhile, Amazon is planning on opening a distribution center in Hawaii later this year. Hawaii News Now reports that to discern what Hawaiian customers want, the company will utilize artificial intelligence. While the most popular health and beauty, dog food, and tech products won’t be stored at the Sand Island facility, they will be distributed from there. The company also intends to collaborate with 5-7 individuals to become delivery service partners.
