Teamsters, laid‑off drivers press Southgate for help after local contractor cuts 75 jobs

Labor representatives and workers impacted by a recent contractor action urged the Southgate City Council on April 28 to intervene after they said a delivery contractor at the local Amazon facility cut about 75 drivers, many of them local residents and some Teamsters members.

David Enriquez of Teamsters Local 396 said the contractor id not renew the DSP contract at the facility and terminated drivers in a move he described as retaliation after workers sought representation: "Amazon cut approximately 75 workers, leaving them unemployed," he said, and adding the organization had asked the city to press Amazon to reinstate drivers and provide final paychecks.

Multiple affected workers and community members testified that drivers had not received final pay and that the operation creates heavy local traffic and community impacts. Speakers called on the council to use the city's leverage to press the company for reinstatement and payment.

After hearing public testimony, the council used an urgency procedure to add the item to the evening's agenda and directed staff to draft a mayoral letter urging the contractor and Amazon to reinstate affected drivers and address outstanding pay. The council voted unanimously to authorize the letter and encouraged individual councilmembers to sign as well.

What happens next: staff will prepare a mayoral letter and the mayor will work with the city manager on language; several councilmembers said they would sign individually. Staff also said it will continue to monitor traffic and public‑safety issues connected with the facility.