A variety of drivers at Amazon’s DBK1 facility in Woodside joined Teamsters representatives and elected officers to demand union recognition, with some employees refusing to rule out a strike if their calls for will not be met.
Greater than 200 drivers on the DBK1 warehouse introduced final week that they’re unionizing with Teamsters Native 804 in a bid to safe higher working circumstances on the facility. Greater than 10,000 Amazon employees throughout 5 states have additionally signaled intentions to hitch the union, in response to Teamsters.
Photograph by Shane O’Brien
Amazon, nonetheless, pushed again strongly, stating that it doesn’t acknowledge drivers on the DBK1 facility as firm workers as a result of they’re employed via third-party Supply Service Companions (DSP). Teamsters, together with plenty of elected officers, have criticized the DSP mannequin, as a result of it permits multinational companies to distance themselves from employees and make it more durable for workers to safe higher working circumstances.
Employees mentioned present circumstances on the facility embrace inconsistent scheduling, unrealistic supply quotas and salaries that don’t meet New York Metropolis’s cost-of-living. Employees additional acknowledged that they’re consistently fearful about shedding their jobs, citing former colleagues who’ve been fired for minor infractions.
Amazon officers mentioned the Dec. 12rally was initiated by “outside organizers” and mentioned the occasion had “no impact” on the corporate’s every day operations. Officers acknowledged that DSP drivers will not be Amazon workers and added that this system was began to help small and medium companies.
Teamsters representatives have described Amazon’s response as “insulting,” including that Amazon’s enterprise mannequin represents a menace to small companies throughout the town.
Drivers and Teamsters representatives rallied outdoors the DBK1 facility at 1 Bulova Ave. on Friday morning to name for union recognition, becoming a member of plenty of representatives from Teamsters Native 804 and a protracted checklist of elected officers, together with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and State Sen. Jabari Brisport.
Meeting Members Jessica González-Rojas, Steven Raga and Claire Valdez additionally joined the protest alongside Council Members Shekar Krishnan, Julie Received and Tiffany Cabán, who has launched the Supply Safety Act within the Metropolis Council. The laws goals to finish the DSP mannequin by requiring supply corporations to immediately rent their drivers.
Elected officers and Teamsters known as on the Metropolis Council to move the Supply Safety Act throughout Friday’s rally, describing the DSP mannequin as “abusive” and “bulls**t.” Though indirectly employed by Amazon, employees typically drive vans and put on uniforms emblazoned with the corporate brand. Employees say they’re additionally required to strictly comply with Amazon guidelines or threat reprimand or termination.
Cabán mentioned the laws would create safer streets in New York Metropolis by offering employees with “good contracts” that don’t drive them to satisfy unrealistic quotas that threaten office and public security.
Cabán has launched the Supply Safety Act, which might drive supply corporations to acknowledge supply drivers as their workers. Photograph by Shane O’Brien
“Amazon is making our city less safe,” Cabán mentioned. “Amazon is treating good people like they are disposable… Teamsters are organizing to hold Amazon accountable.”
Cabán’s laws boasts a super-majority of sponsors however has not but come to a listening to or a Council vote. Nonetheless, a spokesperson for Council Speaker Adrienne Adams mentioned the laws is unlikely to come back to a vote earlier than the top of the legislative session as a result of there are dozens of payments into consideration forward of the ultimate week of the session.
“(It) was just introduced in September, and with dozens of bills under consideration for the final week of the legislative session, this bill is unlikely to have a hearing and be completed in that time period,” a spokesperson for the Council Speaker mentioned.
Officers near Cabán have conceded that the invoice is unlikely to move throughout this legislative session however mentioned the Council Member could be re-introducing the laws “first thing” in 2026. Officers additionally acknowledged that Council Speaker-elect Julie Menin is a powerful supporter of the laws.
Protesters at Friday’s rally additionally criticized Amazon for alleged poor working circumstances on the DBK1 facility, stating that drivers are sometimes confronted with unrealistic quotas which they are saying undermines security.
Employees additionally complained about inconsistent scheduling, stating that they solely discovered in the event that they working a specific shift the evening earlier than, making it virtually unimaginable to plan social actions or search a second job.
Photograph by Shane O’Brien
Christian Tromboli, a driver on the DBK1 facility who was terminated the day earlier than Thanksgiving, mentioned employees could be suspended for per week in the event that they turned down a shift. He added that many employees on the Woodside warehouse are “living paycheck-to-paycheck” and may’t afford to show down a shift, even when it does conflict with one other occasion.
Not less than 70 drivers on the DBK1 facility have signed a petition calling for Tromboli to be reinstated to his place.
“I have an immense gratitude,” Tromboli mentioned. “It’s nice to know that I’ve had an impact on people. This is what solidarity looks like… we’re not going to let a single one of us be knocked down by this big corporation.”
Elected officers additionally blasted Amazon for not paying workers on the Woodside facility a “dignified salary.”
Richards pointed to reviews that Amazon had generated over $76 billion in internet earnings in 2025 and known as on the corporate to extend wages for workers throughout the nation.
“The drivers are what drive Amazon,” Richards mentioned in an handle. “Shame on you if you can’t pay your workers a dignified salary. Shame on you if you can’t provide quality healthcare.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards speaks at Friday’s rally. Photograph by Shane O’Brien
Vincent Perrone, President of Teamsters Native 804, mentioned Amazon has “plenty of money to share” and added that occasions comparable to Friday’s rally goal to “make them share it.” Perrone added {that a} strike “is an option” if Amazon doesn’t acknowledge drivers’ efforts to unionize.
Matt Multari, who works on the DBK1 facility, mentioned employees are in a “constant state of fear” that their jobs might be terminated at a second’s discover. Employees are sometimes confronted with having their hours minimize, he added.
“There are parts of the year where we’re actually getting our days cut,” he mentioned. “Sometimes they’ll take off the day and then be asked to call in on another day. It makes it really hard to have a second job or plan your life around it, and also you’re losing income from that.”
Tromboli mentioned circumstances at DBK1 resembled a “rat race,” with drivers pressured to compete in opposition to each other to attain unrealistic quotas.
“If we’re not overworking ourselves, there will be route reductions or we will be told there’s not enough work for us,” he mentioned.
Multari mentioned Amazon’s response claiming that DBK1 drivers weren’t firm workers was “nonsense,” including that he now not cares what the corporate has to say.
Amazon employee Matt Multari speaks at Friday’s rally. Photograph by Shane O’Brien
“We’re not going to win by engaging in a war of words with Amazon,” Multari mentioned. “We’re going to win by actually fighting across this country.”
Krishnan speaks at Friday’s rally. Photograph by Shane O’Brien
