Bill Would
Rein in Corporate Bullies Like Amazon
ALBANY, N.Y.,
May 21,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters Union announced
its support today for the 21st Century Antitrust Act, sponsored by
New York Deputy Senate Leader
Michael Gianaris and Assembly
Majority Leader Crystal
Peoples-Stokes. Passing the legislation is a top priority
for the union.
The act would update New York's
century-old antitrust laws to address the abuses of today's
mega-corporations. Companies like Amazon would no longer be able to
use their dominant position in the market to exploit workers and
small businesses. The legislation would also require review of
corporate mergers based on their impact on workers and would give
employees a voice in the merger-approval process. It was introduced
in both houses of the legislature this week.
"Amazon is a bully that thinks it can cheat the system to abuse
workers and get away with it. We won't let this corporate criminal
drive down the pay and industry standards set by the Teamsters. We
will hold Amazon accountable for its corrupt business practices,"
said Teamsters General President Sean M.
O'Brien.
Amazon has become a dominant player in the logistics industry by
undercutting good wages and safe working conditions, while
controlling small businesses and the market for goods. Through its
Delivery Service Partner (DSP) model of doing business, Amazon has
absolved itself of all responsibility to its drivers, while
exercising total control over the wages, workplace conditions, and
safety standards of the DSPs.
"Corporations should not be able to use their power to hold down
wages or make it harder for workers to change jobs," said Teamsters
Joint Council 16 President Thomas
Gesualdi. "The 21st Century Antitrust Act will ensure that
the concerns of workers are front and center when corporate mergers
are evaluated. Never again will workers be left out of antitrust
enforcement."
"Our members are not just workers, they are community members
and consumers," said Teamsters Joint Council 18 President
Thomas Quackenbush. "We are seeing
firsthand how Amazon has decimated our small businesses and the
role that corporate power has had in driving up inflation. We are
proud to stand with responsible small businesses and community
organizations to reform antitrust enforcement in New York."
"We need to pass the 21st Century Antitrust Act because workers
have already waited too long for Amazon and other corporate bullies
to be held accountable," said Teamsters Joint Council 46 President
Jeffrey Brylski. "Every day we wait
is a day when these bad actors get to strengthen their stranglehold
on workers, consumers, and small businesses."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto
Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on
Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at
Facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610
kdeniz@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters