Amazon threatens NYC warehouse closures and thousands of layoffs over new delivery bill
Amazon says it will shut more than a dozen New York City warehouses and cut thousands of jobs if the Delivery Protection Act, backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, becomes law.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Delivery Protection Act, reintroduced in 2026, would force Amazon to hire the 5,000 delivery workers in New York City who are currently employed by independent contractors. Amazon has threatened to close over a dozen of its last-mile warehouses in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island and to dismiss about 2,000 warehouse employees if the measure passes. The company points to a precedent in Quebec, where union pressure led to the closure of several facilities and the loss of nearly 2,000 jobs.
City Council members largely support the bill, though Speaker Julie Menin and others express concern over the employment impact. Logistics experts say the legislation could reshape delivery models nationwide, while smaller delivery firms warn it could force them out of business. No vote date has been set, and negotiations continue over possible compromises.
Why it matters
The bill could reshape gig-delivery labor rules and trigger major job losses in New York City.
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