NYC Backs 'Delivery Protection' Law Opposed By Amazon Coalition

The legislation aims to address labor violations and unsafe working conditions caused by the current third-party delivery model used by Amazon and other online retailers.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:04am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of Amazon shipping boxes, a delivery driver's uniform, and a pair of broken eyeglasses arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic seamless background. The objects use sharp, dramatic studio lighting and deep shadows to represent the abstract corporate forces behind the 'last-mile' delivery industry.As tensions escalate over the impacts of Amazon's delivery model, a minimalist studio still life captures the abstract corporate forces behind the 'last-mile' delivery industry.NYC Today

The New York City administration has officially endorsed a City Council bill that would require e-commerce companies to directly hire and pay delivery workers, drawing fierce opposition from an Amazon-backed coalition. The 'delivery protection act' aims to address labor violations and unsafe working conditions caused by the current third-party delivery model used by Amazon and other online retailers.

Why it matters

This legislation is a direct challenge to Amazon's delivery practices, which critics say prioritize speed over worker safety and allow the company to avoid responsibility for the actions of its contracted delivery drivers. The outcome could set a precedent for how cities regulate the growing 'last-mile' delivery industry.

The details

The bill, known as Intro 518, would force companies to directly employ delivery workers, keep driver safety records, and provide training on pedestrian safety. It comes after a city comptroller report found a 10% increase in crashes around 14 out of 18 new 'last-mile' delivery facilities. An Amazon-aligned coalition called New York Delivers bused in dozens of contracted delivery workers to testify against the bill, providing them with $70 Uber vouchers. However, the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has backed the legislation, arguing the current model 'externalizes costs' and leads to worker exploitation.

  • The City Council held a hearing on Intro 518 on Thursday, April 10, 2026.
  • A city comptroller report on increased crashes around last-mile warehouses was released last year.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, who has officially endorsed the 'delivery protection act'.

New York Delivers

A coalition of trade groups and chambers of commerce with ties to Amazon, which organized a rally against the delivery worker protection bill.

Carlos Ortiz

The chief of staff for the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, which testified in support of the bill.

Tiffany Cabán

A City Council member who is a co-sponsor of the 'delivery protection act'.

Ira Pollack

A former Amazon worker who testified about the company's 'obsession with speed' endangering drivers and the public.

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What they’re saying

“Last-mile facilities frequently subcontract much of their core delivery work instead of hiring their own employees to do the work. This model externalizes costs, as well as liabilities, which can lead to labor violations and the exploitation of workers in unsafe working environments.”

— Carlos Ortiz, Chief of Staff, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection

“I witnessed first hand how Amazon's obsession with speed endangers drivers and the public. In a rush to get packages on the road as quickly as possible, Amazon — managers, not just the DSP owners — sends vans speeding all over the loading area where workers are on foot.”

— Ira Pollack, Former Amazon worker

What’s next

The City Council is expected to vote on Intro 518 in the coming weeks. If passed, the bill would then go to Mayor Mamdani for final approval.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tensions between tech companies' delivery models and worker protections, as cities seek to address labor violations and public safety concerns caused by the rapid expansion of 'last-mile' logistics.