New York State AFL-CIO

INCREASE TEMPORARY DISABILITY & PAID FAMILY LEAVE

New York’s temporary disability insurance (TDI) program is currently capped at a woeful $170 per week and has not been increased for two decades. The New York State AFL-CIO is proposing to phase in an increase of the TDI program to eventually reach 50% of the average weekly wage with an annual index to automatically account for inflation.

Also, it is time to include a new family leave benefit in the TDI program. The national AFL-CIO led the way in passage of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the early 1990’s. Prior to that, the New York State AFL-CIO had pushed to create a state paid family benefit for working families that need FMLA. This Federation will continue to lobby for final passage of Paid Family Leave, based on the benefit levels described above.

IDA REFORM AND EMPIRE ZONE REFORM (Legislation Pending)
Reforming two of the state’s largest economic development programs that have historically not produced job growth or lived up to any promises of economic revitalization will be a priority. The New York State AFL-CIO is working in coalition with a number of unions, advocacy organizations and social groups to support an IDA reform bill that:

Requires developers and contractors to pay prevailing wage.
Utilizes local labor sources and apprenticeship programs.
Pays a sustainable, meaningful wage for jobs created by permanent employers receiving IDA funded benefits, whether civic or private.
Requires adherence to labor laws to be eligible for economic development aid; creates penalties and bars employers that violate labor protections.
Allows for better reporting and tracking requirements and for the recoupment of economic development aid from employers that do not live up to their job creation promises and/or flees the jurisdiction.

NURSING OVERTIME (A 1898B Gunther/S 6342 Morahan)
To increase patient safety and create fairness for nurses, the New York State AFL-CIO Nurse Issues Committee has advanced legislation to limiting mandatory overtime for RNs and LPNs in various health care settings. Thanks to intense lobbying from the Committee and with a broad coalition of New York State AFL-CIO affiliates, the bill came very close to passage in 2007 and with a strong push this year, we are hopeful that this proposal may become law.

UNEMPLOYMENT REFORM (Legislation Pending)
Recognizing the unstable economic times that the nation and state face, the New York State AFL-CIO has begun a campaign to strengthen the unemployment system.

Current unemployment benefits are capped at $405 per week—a new benefit increase and periodic indexation to account for inflation needs to be passed.
Unemployment benefits have not been increased in over a decade.
The unemployment trust fund has been under-funded for years and needs immediate replenishment to pay current and future benefits.
With the economy and job market remaining unpredictable, now is the time to address these needs, before the unemployment situation gets worse.

The above are listed in no particular order and as the legislative session unfolds, more items will be reviewed in this column.

Denis M. Hughes, President

Call to Action
LABOR LOBBYISTS MEETING
Monday, May 12, 2008
1:00 p.m., State Fed Headquarters, Albany

Guest Speakers have been invited.

Lunch will be served.

Issue of the WeekThe New York State AFL-CIO supports the following

S. 2007 Volker, et al/A. 606 Cahill, et al

This bill requires utilities to maintain call center services for customers within the service area of the utility. The intent is to combat outsourcing of call center jobs. Shipping good paying jobs that also provide health and other benefits out of state is detrimental to the viability of the communities in which the rate payers of the utilities live. This outsourcing problem is another of the unfortunate impacts of the ill-conceived deregulation of utilities. While most rate payers are familiar with the Enron mess, few understand the insidious practice of outsourcing service jobs, including call center jobs, and the impact on the community tax base of the loss of these jobs. Particularly hard hit are women workers, and in many cases, minority workers who are struggling to make ends meet as it is. When these jobs are outsourced the community is left to deal with the health and educational needs of the families left behind without work.

Therefore, as a good first step in preserving jobs as the number one priority, rather than pie in the sky tax funded development schemes, why not just pass this bill and save these jobs?

(This bill has passed the Assembly and is awaiting action in the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications in the Senate).

Keep An Eye OnTuesday, May 13, 2008
IDA Lobby Day, 11:00 a.m. IDA Coalition Briefing, NYS AFL-CIO (100 So. Swan St), 12 Noon Legislator Lobbying at NYS Capitol and LOB, 2 p.m. IDA Coalition Debrief, NYS AFL-CIO (100 So. Swan St). For further information contact Carrie Brunk at 646-372-7209.