(Reuters) – Thousands of Amazon.com (NASDAQ:) Flex (NASDAQ:) drivers filed arbitration claims on Tuesday, claiming they were misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees, a lawyer representing the drivers told Reuters.
About 15,800 drivers have filed arbitration claims with the American Arbitration Association, seeking compensation from Amazon for unpaid wages, overtime and work-related expenses such as mileage and cellphone use, the lawyer said. Another 453 similar cases are already under consideration.
Amazon doesn’t give Flex drivers 10-minute rest breaks if their shifts are longer than 3.5 hours, one driver said in his arbitration claim.
The lawsuit alleged that Amazon does not provide 30-minute meal breaks for drivers who work more than five hours a day, while another lawsuit alleged that Amazon does not provide detailed wage reports required by California law.
“The Amazon Flex program gives people the opportunity to set their own schedule and be their own boss while earning a competitive salary,” an Amazon spokesperson told Reuters.
Amazon Flex, which operates like Uber’s (NYSE:) on-demand ride-hailing service, provides fast delivery of common household goods to customers through programs like Prime Now and Amazon Fresh.