New York City workers rally for Delivery Protection Act

Hundreds of workers, union members, and elected officials gathered at New York City Hall to advocate for the passage of the Delivery Protection Act. Introduced by Council Member Tiffany Cabán, the legislation targets the subcontracting model used by companies like Amazon, specifically its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program.

The bill seeks to mandate that major companies directly hire their delivery drivers rather than utilizing third-party subcontractors. If passed, the act would require operators of certain last-mile warehouses and storage facilities to obtain licenses from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and comply with new safety and employment standards. The legislation includes a 12-month phase-in period before third-party contracting is generally prohibited.

Supporters, including representatives from the Teamsters and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, argue the current model allows corporations to avoid liability for workplace safety and prevents collective bargaining. The bill has secured a supermajority of 35 sponsors in the City Council and has received support from Mayor Zohran Mamdani.