Amazon said it may move thousands of workers out of NYC over Mamdani labor bill - what experts say will likely happen

Key Points:

• Amazon has threatened to close over a dozen warehouses and move thousands of workers out of New York City if the Delivery Protection Act, which would require Amazon to directly hire 5,000 delivery workers currently employed by contractors, is enacted.
• The bill aims to improve pay and safety for delivery workers but faces opposition from Amazon, which has historically resisted direct employment of delivery staff and unionization efforts in the US and abroad.
• Experts warn that Amazon could shutter its 15 last-mile warehouses in NYC and lay off 2,000 additional workers, paralleling its closure of seven warehouses in Quebec amid labor disputes, resulting in thousands of job losses.
• Negotiations around the bill are ongoing, with some City Council members uncomfortable about potential job losses; compromises may allow contractors to continue deliveries with enhanced worker safety measures.
• Delivery companies employing thousands of workers fear the bill could force them out of business, while Amazon claims that closing NYC facilities would slow delivery times and increase costs for consumers.