Mamdani vs Amazon: NYC mayor backs Delivery Protection Act, pushing last-mile facilities to employ workers directly

Published 11 August 2026 · us

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday (local time) voiced his support for the reportedly controversial 'Delivery Protection Act', a proposed law that would

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday (local time) voiced his support for the reportedly controversial 'Delivery Protection Act', a proposed law that would require delivery companies such as Amazon to directly employ thousands of drivers instead of relying on contractors. Proposed by the Teamsters, the latest regulation would bar companies from subcontracting core warehouse and delivery work at last-mile facilities while requiring workers to be directly employed by the operator, the New York Post reported. Also Read | Mamdani is shunning New York business leaders who are used to calling the shots Mamdani's remarks on Delivery Protection Act In a statement, he said, "Corporations like Amazon build billion-dollar business models by insulating themselves from accountability through a system of exploitative subcontracting. As last-mile delivery centers have exploded across New York, so too have traffic accidents and worker injuries." He called the bill a "common-sense regulation that protects delivery workers, safeguards the communities where these facilities operate and ensures that the corporations benefiting from workers’ labor are responsible for the consequences of their business practices." Mamdani added, "New Yorkers should not be forced to subsidize corporate profits with less safe streets and more precarious jobs. The people who make these companies run deserve dignity, stability and a safe workplace.

It's time to end the subcontracting model that puts profits over people and build an economy that works for working New Yorkers." What does the Delivery Protection Act propose? The Delivery Protection Act would make it mandatory for last-mile facilities to obtain licenses from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) and establish minimum safety, training, and worker protection standards. Further, the legislation would also ensure companies are accountable for the quotas, schedules, and routes that shape working conditions and affect public safety, according to an official release. Why is the Mamdani administration backing the Delivery Protection Act? Last-mile facilities are warehouses where parcels are sorted and prepared for their final journey to customers. Around 18 major facilities have opened across New York City since 2017, including 11 since 2020. Although large delivery companies such as Amazon do not directly employ the drivers operating from these sites, they do have significant influence over working conditions and operations. A recent Bloomberg Businessweek investigation found that Amazon determines factors including which drivers subcontractors can hire, their schedules, routes, conduct and uniforms. These facilities have also been linked to concerns over traffic safety in the city. A 2025 report by the Office of the Comptroller found that injury-causing crashes increased in at least 78 per cent of areas surrounding the facilities after they opened.