Amazon Wins Injunction Against New York Labor Law

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• A federal judge granted Amazon a preliminary injunction blocking New York’s new labor law.
• Ruling says the law likely violates federal labor regulations under long-standing precedent.
• Case stems from the firing of a union vice president at Amazon’s JFK8 warehouse.
• Judge cites risk of inconsistent rulings between PERB and the NLRB.
• New York’s law was designed to counteract the NLRB case backlog under the Trump administration.

Amazon Secures Court Victory Against New York’s New Labor Oversight Law

Amazon has won a significant legal battle after a federal judge in Brooklyn issued a preliminary injunction blocking New York State from enforcing a newly enacted labor law aimed at filling the regulatory gap caused by a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) quorum crisis.

The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee, marks the first major judicial test of New York’s attempt to allow its Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to adjudicate private-sector labor disputes. Amazon argued that the state law represented an illegal intrusion into federal labor jurisdiction, and the court agreed.

A Direct Challenge to Federal Authority

Judge Komitee, citing a landmark 1959 U.S. Supreme Court precedent, ruled that federal labor law preempts states from stepping in—even during periods when the NLRB is unable to function normally.

He emphasized that Congress anticipated temporary quorum shortages at the NLRB and noted there was no reason to believe the federal board’s inability to act would be permanent.

As a result, Amazon is likely to prevail on the merits once the case is fully heard.

New York’s Goal: Address a Growing NLRB Backlog

New York’s law—signed September 5 by Governor Kathy Hochul—was a direct response to a huge backlog of labor cases after President Donald Trump removed Democratic NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox in January, leaving the board without the quorum necessary to issue rulings.

The backlog includes dozens of active disputes involving Amazon and other major employers.

California passed a similar law shortly after, and the NLRB has already filed suit to stop both states from moving forward.

The Case That Sparked the Clash

Amazon’s lawsuit sought to prevent PERB from hearing the case involving the August 9 firing of Brima Sylla, a local union vice president at the company’s JFK8 warehouse—the only unionized Amazon facility in the United States.

Judge Komitee said Amazon faced a risk of irreparable harm, pointing to the possibility of PERB issuing rulings that could conflict with future NLRB decisions.

Political Context: Washington Moves to Restore NLRB Power

The Biden administration is pushing to restore the NLRB’s quorum, and Trump has since nominated two new members who would give the board a Republican majority once confirmed.

Wilcox has sued to regain her seat, but the Supreme Court allowed her removal to stand while litigation continues.

Amazon, New York Silent Ahead of Holiday

Representatives for Amazon and the New York Attorney General’s office did not immediately comment, as the ruling came just before the Thanksgiving holiday.