Amazon doesn't own the shipping company.

There doesn't look to be anything deceptive here (like you sometimes hear about with people who learn they're self-employed only when they get a 1099 form in the mail). The drivers don't have to sign up with LaserShip. I mean it seems like a pretty shitty deal if you're a driver without your own van, requiring significant capital investment; why do they take it? Perhaps these guys should do a cost-benefit analysis before they pursue these contracts.

And guess what, this is the same model that Uber and Lyft and many tractor-trailer drivers follow too.

I'm all for fair employment contracts and standards, but these guys entered into the arrangements freely.

The problem is similar to, say, getting mad about the conduct of the oil industry. Appeal to its employees? They knew it was shit going in, and don't care. Appeal to its customers (aka, everyone)? They're addicted to the product.

You could conceivably convince a portion of either group to share your outrage, but they're going to keep buying into it anyway.

Maybe the feds could step in or something, but we're an oligarchy now, so you'd have to convince rich people it was problem. Amazon's competitors, perhaps.

Good christ, the shit we're in.

@2 - Yup, it's their own fault. I mean, did you see what they were wearing?

As a consumer you have some control over how Amazon delivers your packages. As in, if you submit feedback to them that UPS (unionized) handles your packages better and delivers in a better/more timely/more convenient..etc manner, they will route more packages through UPS. At least that has been my personal experience.

We used to have quite a lot of problems with a different shipper that Amazon used, after several complaints that stressed how much better UPS was, nearly all of our packages come via UPS now.

So employees who are not being exploited are "standing on the backs of these other employees who are getting screwed out of a fair wage and basic workers rights"?

At any level below that of executive tier, employees are almost certainly contributing more value to the company than they are receiving in pay and benefits. The people standing on the backs of the most exploited workers are the execs and investors who receive the profit, and the consumers who get to pay less.

@6,

I guess we'd be at odds then. One of the tipping points for me why I don't buy online anymore is because I hate UPS. I appreciate that its unionized, but I loathe how hostile the company is to the recipient. Pro-tip: You, the recipient, are not UPS's customer, which is why they'll shit all over you whenever they feel like it.

@2,

In that case, why have any labor protections? Do you operate under the illusion that labor is on an equal footing with management? What kind of fantasy world do you live in?

It seems that temp and contract workers across industries are not protected by the usual laws. Ignoring overtime laws are a much bigger issue than just these drivers.

I get UPS every time. Guess I'm magic.

(sidenote: fedex sucks)
(double sidenote: UPS should own up to its driver running over that lady in tukwila)

@4 FTW.

Pretty sure the problem lies with the US labor culture in general, not with one specific company. I guess the Stranger thinks all of this behavior is new? Because it isn't. There's nothing new about Amazon. It isn't unusual.

Some of these comments are pathetic and really shallow, not to allow an independent contractor deliver your goods? We are trying to feed our families and people have a problem with that? Oh, i know, you would rather have us on welfare collecting food stamps and free health care so then u can come on the internet and social media to complain about that as well.



We are dealing with corporate America on our terms. What is it to you that I am my own entity and not apart of the machine? How do you know what my pay check looks like at the end of the week? Do u not understand that 1099 means i have to pay taxes numb nuts, lmfao?



For the record and all of your information the USPS and FEDEX use independent contractors as well because if they didnt u would not recieve ur mail.



A lot of u should really do ur home work before posting things you know nothing about!!