Teamsters Push Chicago Council to Regulate Amazon Delivery Practices

Introduced by 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez, the act mandates that all last-mile delivery operations within city limits obtain specific licensing. Central to the proposal is a prohibition on subcontracting models like Amazon’s Delivery Service Partners (DSPs). Proponents claim this structure allows the retail giant to offload liability for worker injuries and traffic accidents while suppressing union organizing efforts.

Randy Korgan, director of the Teamsters Amazon Division, described the push as a necessary response to persistent mistreatment of warehouse and delivery staff. Echoing these concerns, Teamsters Joint Council 25 President Thomas W. Stiede emphasized that municipal convenience should not come at the expense of neighborhood safety or worker health.

Drivers operating out of local hubs, such as the DIL7 facility in Skokie, argue that the current legal framework fails to acknowledge Amazon's direct control over daily operations, including route management and surveillance. The Chicago effort mirrors a similar legislative campaign in New York City, which currently holds supermajority backing in that city’s council. If approved, the ordinance would force a reclassification of accountability for delivery companies, shifting responsibility from individual subcontractors back to the primary employer.