Teamsters Rally for Chicago's Delivery Protection Act
Amazon Teamsters and their allies gathered in front of Chicago City Hall to urge the city council to pass the Delivery Protection Act. Introduced by Alderwoman Julia Ramirez, this bill would require delivery companies operating in Chicago to license their last-mile delivery facilities with the city and ban subcontracting practices used by companies like Amazon.
Amazon's 'Delivery Service Partner' (DSP) program allows the company to hire third-party contractors to avoid liability for accidents. The Teamsters Union is pushing for an end to this practice, which they claim puts workers at risk and suppresses unionizing efforts.
Randy Korgan, Director of the Teamsters Amazon Division, stated that 'the momentum to hold Amazon accountable is growing nationwide.' He emphasized that Amazon workers are tired of the company's lies about employment and want protection for Chicago neighborhoods and delivery workers.
Alderwoman Ramirez noted that laws have not kept pace with the growth of the delivery industry. She urged her colleagues to support the bill, saying 'the convenience of same-day delivery cannot come at the expense of workers or the safety of our neighborhoods.'