ALBANY, NY (March 12, 2024) – In response to the New York State Senate and Assembly one-house budget proposals, ALIGN released the following statement:
“Workers didn’t get their due in today’s one-houses, but it’s not too late to make it right,” said Theodore A. Moore, ALIGN Executive Director. “Without a fair minimum wage for upstate workers, guaranteed cost-of-living raises, and protections for warehouse workers facing a nation-leading injury crisis, New York leaves workers in the lurch. But there’s still time for Governor Hochul and our legislative leaders to stand up for workers in the final budget. Thank you to Labor Committee Chairs Sen. Ramos and Assm. Bronson and all of our champions in the legislature for their leadership as we continue the fight for working New Yorkers.”
Background:
- Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act (S5081/A8907)
- 1 in 11 New York warehouse workers are injured annually—four times more often than in any other industry in the state and at a rate 54% higher than the national average
- Calling for $5 million to implement legislation requiring annual expert evaluation of large warehouses for potential injury risk and establishment of consistent safety standards across the industry. Also mandates better job design, effective worker training, and improved on-site medical care.
- Upstate Parity and Minimum Wage Protection Act (S8154/A9093)
- The MIT Living Wage calculator shows a living wage in New York state is $26/hr
- Bill sets a new wage floor upstate and down by establishing a statewide minimum wage of $17/hr by 2026
- Eliminates a loophole in the current minimum wage law that denies workers a raise when unemployment goes up.
About ALIGN
ALIGN (Alliance for a Greater New York) brings together labor, climate, and community organizations for a more just, sustainable New York. Working at the intersection of economic and climate justice, ALIGN builds coalitions with those most impacted and uplifts worker and community voices to fight for dignity in the workplace and a just path to a renewable energy economy for all. Read more about ALIGN’s 2024 Labor & Climate Agenda.