September 23, 2025

Amazon Sues New York Over Labor Law Dispute

News Summary

Amazon.com Services LLC has filed a lawsuit in New York against the Public Employment Relations Board to block Senate Bill 8034A. The company argues the law infringes on federal labor regulations and constitutes an ‘unconstitutional power grab.’ The legislation aims to provide workers with additional protections amid delays at the NLRB. As Amazon engages in this legal battle, it underscores the tension between state and federal authorities in overseeing labor relations, impacting millions of workers employed by the tech giant.

New York – Amazon.com Services LLC has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). The legal action aims to block New York’s Senate Bill 8034A, which Amazon argues violates federal labor relations regulations.

The tech giant claims that the state law constitutes an “unconstitutional power grab” that allows PERB to extend its authority beyond the bounds established by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Amazon argues that this new regulation undermines federal authority over union organizing, collective bargaining, and workplace disputes.

Senate Bill 8034A was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on September 5, 2023, with the intention of providing additional protections to workers. The Governor explained that the law became necessary due to a backlog of cases at the NLRB, which was exacerbated by the agency’s lack of a quorum. The backlog began when former President Donald Trump dismissed Democratic member Gwynne Wilcox in January, leading to significant delays in processing labor-related cases.

Amazon contends that PERB has already started to implement the new law. It has filed a charge involving the dismissal of Brima Sylla, an employee at Amazon’s JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island and a union vice president, despite the fact that the NLRB is already reviewing the case. The company further asserts that the New York law falsely presupposes PERB’s jurisdiction over private-sector employers until a court determines otherwise.

According to Amazon, the state law creates unnecessary conflict between state and federal authorities, which is precisely what Congress aimed to prevent. The NLRB’s Acting General Counsel, William Cowen, has also pointed out that federal law is likely to preempt state measures like those introduced in New York due to the agency’s ongoing backlog and quorum challenges.

Approximately 1.56 million workers, both full-time and part-time, are employed by Amazon as of the end of the previous year. This numerous workforce is now at the center of a legal dispute that could significantly influence labor relations in the private sector.

In a parallel move, the NLRB itself has also filed a lawsuit against New York in Albany federal court to block the enforcement of the state law, thereby indicating the complexity and high stakes involved in this issue.

As of now, both PERB and the New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office have not responded to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit. The outcome of this legal battle could have profound implications for labor relations not only in New York but potentially across the nation, depending on the federal court’s decisions on jurisdiction and authority over labor regulations.

The ongoing developments in this case illustrate the growing tension between state and federal agencies tasked with regulating labor relations, especially as private-sector labor movements gain traction and face scrutiny. The final rulings on these matters are anticipated to have lasting impacts on both employer practices and employee rights in the evolving landscape of labor relations.