Malden City Council Moves To Protect Amazon Employees

MALDEN, MA — The Malden City Council on Tuesday passed a resolution pushing for fair and equitable treatment of Amazon employees. The resolution requires the retail giant to meet or exceed community standards for wages, benefits and safe working conditions before any potential expansion into Malden.

Amazon would also have to work with Teamsters Local 25 and any other interested community members.

"We are proactively telling Amazon workers we stand with them as they fight for pay, benefits and working conditions that fit our community standards," Ward 8 Councilor Jadeane Sica, who sponsored with resolution, said in a statement.

The retailer has to show that delivery drivers will be direct employees and not independent contractors, and that its operations meet or exceed the current standards established by existing delivery networks.

"The Malden City Council is sending a strong message to this greedy corporation that disrespecting workers will not be tolerated here," Teamsters Local 25 President Sean O'Brien said in a statement. "Delivery drivers in Greater Boston are highly-trained, safe workers who are part of the fabric of the community. Amazon refuses to meet community standard for wages, health insurance and retirement benefits for drivers and that is simply unacceptable."

The resolution passed 11-0.