AMAZON CONTRACTORS SUE FOR OVERTIME PAYBY: JOE ELY

SITUATION

• Amazon.com has been sued by Illinois delivery drivers, who were contracted through Silverstar, for failing to pay them overtime for hauling its goods.

• One of the drivers maintains that Amazon was so involved with his day-to-day work that it would be a “joint employer” and would be liable for violations under state and federal law.

• The lawsuit is targeting the contracting company as well as Amazon.• Drivers in California and Washington have also brought wage-and-hour

lawsuits naming Amazon in those cases.

AMAZON’S RESPONSE

• “The small and medium-sized businesses tht partner with Amazon logistics have their own employees and are required to abide by applicable laws and Amazon’s Supplier Code of Conduct.”

• “We investigate any claim that a provider isn’t complying with these obligations.”

LABOR ADVOCATES’ VIEWS ON AMAZON

• Maintain the Amazon is much more involved in their relationships with contracted workers.

• From the workers’ attorney:• “The trainings were done by Amazon personnel, the daily assignments

were given out by Amazon personnel, Amazon personnel tracked the routes taken by the drivers, they wore Amazon logos.”

• ”If there was a problem with package delivery, they went to Amazon. They didn’t go to Silverstar.”

MY THOUGHTS

• A good case has been made by how involved Amazon is in the day-to-day work of contractors. This is far from the only lawsuit against Amazon when it comes to paying contractors.

• Due to the facts presented I believe Amazon owes these workers their overtime pay.

QUESTIONS

•Do these delivery drivers work for Amazon?•Does Amazon owe these workers?

CITATIONS

• http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/technology/ct-amazon-delivery-drivers-lawsuit-20161103-story.html• (Searched article)

• http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-03/who-s-the-boss-amazon-contractors-sue-to-find-out

• (Original article)