Governor Hochul signs bills to strengthen and expand labor protections

ALBANY, NY- Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to strengthen and expand labor protections statewide.

The package of bills will help create good paying union jobs and strengthen protections for workers across the state, she says. “Our union laborers are the lifeblood of New York, working tirelessly to continue to build and uplift this great state,” Hochul declared.

The package of bills includes:

Legislation S.8034A/A8590A which authorizes the New York State Public Employment Relations Board to assert jurisdiction over disputes between employers and recognized employee organizations if the National Labor Relations Board is unable to successfully assert jurisdiction.

Legislation S.5254/A.6612 which protects public unions from a wage reduction due to their involvement in the investigation of a violation of a workplace violence protection program.

Legislation S.12/A.779 which amends the Civil Service Law to strengthen protections for public unions during times of suspensions and workforce layoffs.

Legislation S.2457B/A3999B which establishes the Mechanical Insulation Energy Savings Program to provide grants for qualified mechanical insulation expenditures to school districts.

Legislation A.2730A requires contractors and subcontractors performing construction work for covered renewable energy systems to have apprenticeship agreements. This legislation also requires thermal energy networks to require contractors and subcontractors to have pre-apprenticeship direct entry providers registered with the New York State Department of Labor.

Image via the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul.