Speaking of the Positive Effects of Unions

Amazon is raising pay for its drivers by 7% year over year in an attempt to forestall unionization.

Even when unions don't win, the threat of unions produces a win: 

Amazon.com is putting billions of dollars toward the drivers that deliver its packages following union organizing activity among such workers.

The company said it is investing about $2 billion into its delivery services program this year, and that the money will result in average national pay for drivers delivering Amazon parcels to reach nearly $22 per hour, a 7% increase from last year.

Amazon has been delivering most of its own packages with the help of small businesses around the country since 2018. The average pay for drivers was $20.50 last year.

………

Amazon’s investment follows union organizing activity and changes to how labor officials view its drivers.

Officials with the National Labor Relations Board have recently designated Amazon a joint employer of drivers who are contracted to deliver packages for the company at facilities in Palmdale, Calif., and Atlanta. The rulings could change how the agency views Amazon’s relationship with drivers and could force Amazon to bargain with those workers if they unionize.

Of course Amazon is a joint employer:

• Amazon surveils the drivers with their own cameras.
• Amazon dictates the metrics that result in a driver being hired or fired. 
• Amazon dictates the specific root that these drivers take.
• Amazon dictates how often the drivers can pee.  (Hence the bottles)

Nice to see Amazon being forced against its will to do the right thing.

Now arrest Jeff Bezos for bad hair or something.