Amazon’s labor practices are under fire as the National Labor Relations Board accuses the company of violating federal labor laws.

A recently filed complaint claims that Amazon acted as a joint employer with its California logistics contractor, Battle Tested Strategies and discriminated against employees seeking to unionize.

Allegations against Amazon

In the NLRB complaint, Amazon is accused of several violations of the National Labor Relations Act, specifically regarding delivery drivers at its Palmdale, California facility.

These drivers, employed by Battle Tested Strategies — a delivery service partner (DSP) for Amazon — had unionized with the Teamsters in 2023, becoming the first group of Amazon delivery drivers in the U.S. to do so.

The NLRB contends that Amazon interfered with the drivers’ rights to organize, citing incidents where the company increased surveillance, delayed package preparation to disrupt work schedules, and heightened vehicle inspections as means to discourage union activity.

In addition, the company allegedly coerced employees by offering improved conditions in exchange for disengaging from union activities. In June 2023, Amazon illegally ended its contract with BTS without bargaining with the union, the NLRB alleges.

Amazon has maintained that it was not a direct employer of these workers, but the NLRB found otherwise, declaring that Amazon exercised significant control over labor policies and working conditions at the Palmdale facility.

Joint employer status and what it means for Amazon

The NLRB’s decision to label Amazon as a joint employer is a pivotal development in the broader labor movement surrounding the company. If upheld, this status would mean that Amazon, along with its DSPs, bears direct responsibility for labor relations and could be compelled to negotiate with the Teamsters.

A hearing before an NLRB administrative law judge is scheduled for March 25, 2025. The outcome could set a precedent for labor relations at Amazon and other companies using similar subcontractor models.

In a statement, the Teamsters said the decision brings them one step closer to getting fair pay and conditions for Amazon workers.