Layoffs On The Way For Milford Amazon Drivers

MILFORD, MA — Amazon delivery drivers in Milford, Dedham and Chelsea are facing impending layoffs starting next month. Just over 200 employees will be laid off from the three Amazon Fulfillment Centers, according to a notice filed with the state.

The layoffs aren't coming from Amazon itself, but from Urban Mobility Now, a company contracted by the online retail giant to provide "last mile delivery" from the fulfillment centers. A notice was filed with the state government last week as well as with Connecticut, that layoffs were coming to drivers for the fulfillment centers in the region.

The layoffs are set to start on Oct. 9.

One Amazon Fulfillment Center in Connecticut is affected, located in Bristol. The facility will see 74 layoffs. Urban Mobility Now wrote a letter to the Connecticut government, detailing that the layoffs were a result of a loss of business revenue and economic circumstances. Specifically, the letter mentioned, "a significant downturn in business and accompanying contract termination."

The letter also mentioned that layoffs could happen sooner or later than the listed Oct. 9 date, "depending upon the need for workers as we work with Amazon towards contract dissolution." The close of the letter noted that Urban Mobility Now would help employees in the transition.

A spokesperson for Amazon told Patch that the company is working with drivers to help place them with other delivery companies. Urban Mobility Now told Amazon they were voluntarily ending their partnership with the company's Deliver Service Partner Program, the spokesperson said. Urban Mobility Now is only contracted for the facilities facing the layoffs in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Patch is awaiting comment from Upward Mobility Now.

A letter was not available on the Massachusetts Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act weekly report site. Most companies with more than 100 employees are required under federal law to notify the state government when they plan large layoffs.