Amazon Flex drivers file arbitration claims for misclassification as contractors

> A claim said that Amazon does not provide 30-minute meal breaks for drivers who work more than five hours a day, whereas another claim alleged that Amazon fails to provide itemized wage statements required by California law.

> "The Amazon Flex program gives individuals the opportunity to set their own schedule and be their own boss, while earning competitive pay," an Amazon spokesperson told Reuters.

These seem to be in direct contradiction. Is it that Amazon lets the drivers be on their own schedule but tightly controls their time during the period when they are working actively? And if so is that really a problem, since presumably Amazon is trying to maintain certain service levels, costs, and prices as part of contracting this out?

> About 15,800 drivers have submitted arbitration claims with the American Arbitration Association

As I recall, most arbitration has immediate costs to even begin a claim. How do these workers afford this? Or is there some group strategy in flooding them with claims?