Amazon drivers sue for employee benefits

Four Prime Now delivery drivers have filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that the company expects them to work like employees whilst compensating them as contractors.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the drivers, who are based in Los Angeles, claim they were unable to pick or refuse their deliveries, were expected to work six to seven days a week, and were required to wear uniforms. As such, the workers are demanding that Amazon offer them employee benefits and compensation.

The benefits they are suing for include lunch breaks, overtime pay and annual paid leave. The lawsuit also explains how the drivers were expected to pay for petrol out of their own money, in order to keep Amazon’s “one hour delivery” promise. It's been a rather bad year for Amazon, following a harrowing exposé on their working conditions by the New York Times.

Taree Truong, one of the claimants, explained, in an interview with The OC Register, the other implications in the lawsuit, saying: “When I was hired, I was told that I would be paid $11 an hour plus tips and $2.50 per delivery. In September, I had to sign a new contract that eliminated the delivery fee.