Promoting Good, Safe Last-Mile Delivery Jobs in New York City

In New York City, just like in the rest of the country, e-commerce is booming as consumers turn to online shopping for everything from groceries to furniture. In 2021, more than 2.3 million packages were delivered daily across New York City, up from 1.1 million in 2017—a 109% increase in just four years—and the industry has grown even more rapidly since then. Corporations like Amazon and FedEx have established last-mile delivery warehouses across the city to package orders and deliver them, resulting in rapid growth of a last mile delivery workforce of thousands of warehouse and delivery workers who get packages from warehouse facilities to customers’ homes and businesses. Their work includes receiving and sorting packages, moving packages onto delivery vehicles, maintaining warehouses and vehicles, and delivering packages to their final destinations. It is strenuous, and too often dangerous work.

According to the New York City Comptroller’s Office, injury rates per 100 employees at last mile facilities are more than triple the national average for private employers.[i] Severe injuries are common, with 85% of injuries leading to time away from work or reassignment.[ii] Of the 18 last-mile facilities over 50,000 square feet that opened in the city between 2017 and 2022, 14 saw an increase in injury-causing vehicle crashes in their neighborhoods after the facilities opened.[iii]

Despite disclaiming responsibility as an employer for nearly all its delivery drivers, Amazon maintains near total control over every aspect of the delivery process. Prioritizing speed over worker and community safety, Amazon’s complex system of sub-contracting and use of algorithmic management, automated quota systems, and intense worker surveillance are driving high rates of worker injury and vehicle accidents at last-mile facilities.

The fast-growing last-mile delivery system in its current form is dangerous, and last-mile delivery companies must be held accountable. NELP is supporting proposed local legislation—Int. No. 0518 in New York City—to ensure that Amazon and other last-mile delivery operators protect last mile delivery workers and the public. The proposed bill would establish standards for licensing, safety training, and supervision for the delivery workforce to reduce the elevated rates of worker injuries, vehicle accidents, and other adverse community impacts under the current unregulated system. It also would require last-mile delivery operators to directly employ nearly all the warehouse and delivery workers that are central to their businesses and establish improved record-keeping requirements and worker protections. The legislation is a strong first step in raising workplace standards in an industry rife with exploitation and in ensuring last-mile delivery operators are accountable to their workers and the public.

Read NELP Senior Director of Contracted Worker Justice Laura Padin’s testimony supporting the bill.

[i] Id.

[ii] Id. at 6.

[iii] Id. at 9.