FOIA docs reveal Amazon's extensive control over delivery drivers it insists are not employees, in a case the NLRB sought to settle on terms favorable to Amazon
The feds were pushing a landmark case about Amazon's control of its contract drivers. Then the president put Amazon's former lawyer in charge.
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FOIA Docs Expose Amazon's Tight Grip on Its 'Non-Employee' Drivers
Documents obtained via FOIA reveal Amazon exerts extensive control over contract delivery drivers it classifies as non-employees.
Newly surfaced documents obtained through FOIA requests paint a damning picture of Amazon's relationship with its contract delivery drivers. The records show the e-commerce giant exercises extensive control over these workers — while simultaneously insisting they aren't employees.
The revelation matters because worker classification determines labor rights, benefits, and union eligibility. The NLRB had been pursuing what was shaping up to be a landmark case over Amazon's control of its contract driver workforce.
But the case took a sharp turn. The NLRB sought to settle on terms favorable to Amazon. Then the president installed Amazon's former lawyer to lead the agency, raising serious questions about the independence of the proceedings.
The documents, reported by Bloomberg's Josh Eidelson, underscore the gap between Amazon's public stance on driver independence and the operational reality on the ground. The case remains a flashpoint in the broader fight over gig worker classification.