Mayor Mamdani backs bill to force Amazon to hire its own drivers, sparking corporate clash

Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly backed the Delivery Protection Act, a proposal championed by the Teamsters that would bar companies like Amazon from subcontracting core warehouse and last-mile delivery work, mandating direct employment of drivers. The mayor described the bill as essential regulation to protect workers and hold corporations responsible for their labor practices. Amazon, which collaborates with more than 40 local Delivery Service Partners and employs over 5,000 people in New York City, warned that the legislation could endanger those jobs and compel the company to move its delivery operations outside the city.

Small-business owners and delivery workers plan a press event in East Harlem, claiming the bill could jeopardize as many as 10,000 jobs, including roughly 3,500 in Harlem and nearby council districts. Rudy Cazares, who runs an Amazon Delivery Service Partner and also contracts for FedEx, said the law would force his company to close, despite employing about 130 workers with benefits. City officials, including Deputy Commissioner Carlos Ortiz, have expressed concern about possible unintended effects, while Council Speaker Julie Menin’s office awaits further stakeholder input.