Photographer: Chet Strange/Bloomberg via Getty Images
On the Clock is Motherboard's reporting on the organized labor movement, gig work, automation, and the future of work.
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We also spoke to four other Amazon delivery company owners in Oregon, Washington, Virginia, and Minnesota who said that Amazon has been threatening delivery companies in their regions with termination for not keeping pace with route quotas, which are difficult to meet because of the tight labor market. “Amazon is using [these letters] as a ‘cover your ass’ to not renew [delivery service partners] that it doesn't like,” an Amazon delivery company owner in Washington told Motherboard. “Amazon is trying to find a cause to terminate [them].” Amazon is these delivery companies' sole client, and a termination of the contract would effectively put them out of business. Amazon also stated in the email that it would place the companies in “poor” standing making them ineligible for bonuses until the “breach” was “cured.” Even if the breach was “cured,” Amazon said it would consider the “breach of contract” when determining whether to renew the delivery company’s contract in the future. “I don’t have violations. I’m very diligent in how I run my business. I don’t just hire anyone off the street,” the owner in Minnesota continued. “Why am I being penalized? Because my outlook is quality over quantity?”Are you an Amazon employee or delivery service partner owner with a tip to share about Amazon? Please get in touch with the reporter, Lauren, via lauren.gurley@vice.com or on Signal 201-897-2109.
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