Governor Kathy Hochul signed eight pieces of pro-labor legislation in New York State, coinciding with the New York City Labor Day Parade. The new laws aim to protect workers, improve working conditions, and promote growth within the state’s workforce. These actions reaffirm the state’s commitment to supporting working families and ensuring a strong middle class.
The Retail Worker Safety Act requires retail employers to provide training and information to prevent workplace violence, based on a model program from the Department of Labor. Larger retailers must also provide silent alarms for employees needing emergency assistance.
Another piece of legislation mandates that automobile manufacturers reimburse dealerships based on retail labor time guides, ensuring fair compensation for warranty repairs. This addresses the issue of manufacturer-produced guides often underestimating the actual labor time required.
A key law requires contractors on public projects to submit payrolls to a publicly accessible electronic database managed by the Department of Labor. This measure increases transparency and accountability in the use of public funds for construction projects.
Legislation focusing on freedom of information requests mandates state agencies to notify public employees when their disciplinary records are requested. This ensures fairness and transparency in the process of accessing such sensitive information.
To streamline civil service processes, new laws allow applicants to take competitive exams within 12 months of meeting requirements, mandate a five-year review and update of exam questions, ensure employees receive information about judgments regarding their ability to perform duties due to disability, and allow provisional credit to qualify for promotional exams. These changes aim to modernize and improve the efficiency of the civil service system.
These legislative actions were praised by various labor leaders and organizations, including the New York State AFL-CIO, the AFL-CIO New York City Central Labor Council, and the New York State Building Trades. They emphasized the positive impact these laws will have on worker safety, fair wages, and transparency in public projects.
The signing of these bills into law reinforces New York’s commitment to its workforce and signifies a significant step towards strengthening worker protections and promoting economic justice across various sectors.
