Amazon scores big win at NLRB over whether it’s a joint employer with DSPs

An NLRB administrative law judge approved a settlement between the NLRB General Counsel and Amazon that resolves a 2024 complaint alleging Amazon was a joint employer with a Direct Service Provider (DSP) at the Palmdale DAX8 facility. The deal includes a small payout (two weeks’ pay) for roughly 84 workers and a non‑admission clause disavowing Amazon’s joint‑employer status. The Teamsters have filed to appeal, calling the settlement a “sham.” The outcome reduces the immediate regulatory and legal risk to Amazon’s DSP delivery model, a key operational and cost structure, and was viewed positively by markets (the story notes AMZN +1.51%), as it avoids a precedent that could have broadened employer liability nationwide.