Amazon spent over $5 million on New York lobbying to block a City Council bill regarding driver classification. This represents the company’s largest-ever lobbying expenditure within the state. The proposed legislation has gained significant momentum with more than 30 co-sponsors.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed the bill on August 10. The legislation mandates direct employment for drivers wearing Amazon uniforms or operating branded vans.
The bill’s passage could significantly increase Amazon's labor costs through mandated benefits and union-negotiated wages. Similar agreements in other regions have set driver pay near $30 per hour.