SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey’s attorney general has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the company uses anti-competitive policies to underpay and overwork delivery drivers.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the so-called independent contractors working as drivers for Amazon are anything but independent.
“These are the workers who bring Amazon packages to our front doors. They often show up in Amazon vans, wearing Amazon vests, carrying boxes with the Amazon logo on them. And in our view, they are working longer hours, in worse conditions, and for less money because of Amazon’s anticompetitive behavior,” she said.
Davenport claims Amazon is abusing its buying power for delivery drivers’ services, forcing workers to accept lower wages and “appalling conditions,” she said.
The lawsuit specifically targets Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program. The company classifies those drivers as independent contractors. Davenport said they are anything but independent, with Amazon controlling almost every aspect of their workday.
In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson said:
This complaint is not grounded in fact. The Attorney General’s characterization of the DSP Program and the claims about working conditions are just wrong. The truth is, DSPs are independent business owners who make their own decisions about hiring, fleet management, and capacity planning — and they choose whether to work with other companies besides Amazon. … DSPs manage their drivers’ workday and route execution, and DSP employees are free to choose their employer and associate with who they want, full stop.
Suit claims Amazon uses anti-competitive policies to underpay and overwork drivers
Suit claims Amazon uses anti-competitive policies to underpay and overwork drivers
