For Immediate Release: December 2, 2024
Media Contact: Lisa Thomas, lisa@alignny.org, (347) 415-6431
On Cyber Monday, Labor Coalition Raises Alarm for
Governor Hochul to Take Action on Warehouse Worker Safety
The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act still awaits the
Governor’s signature to become law
ALBANY, NY – On Cyber Monday and as the holiday shopping season ramps up, Theodore A. Moore, ALIGN Executive Director and leader of the New Yorkers for a Fair Economy coalition released the following statement:
“New York is the most dangerous state for warehouse workers — 1 in 11 of our warehouse workers is injured each year, more than double the national average. And on major sales days, injuries spike, as workers endure long, grueling shifts in unsafe conditions to fulfill a mountain of orders. It’s time to flip the script. Governor Hochul, sign the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act into law now and protect New York workers.”
Background:
- The New York State Legislature passed the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act (S5081C/A8907A) by a vote of 52-5 in the Senate and unanimously in the Assembly. Sponsored by Labor Chairs State Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Harry Bronson, the bill currently awaits Governor Hochul’s signature to become law.
- 1 in 11 NY warehouse workers are injured annually and NY’s warehouse worker injury rate is 54% higher than the national average. Amazon workers are injured at an even higher rate — 37% more often than workers at non-Amazon facilities.
- The Act requires annual safety evaluations of large warehouses for potential risks, establishes industry-wide safety standards, improves training and medical care, and empowers DOL to implement and enforce the act.
About New Yorkers for a Fair Economy
New Yorkers for a Fair Economy (NYFE) is a coalition of labor unions, small businesses, and immigrant and community organizations uniting to safeguard our state from the abusive practices of big corporations and achieve an economy that works for all New Yorkers. NYFE is led by ALIGN (Alliance for a Greater New York) and includes labor unions Teamsters Joint Council 16 and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; community groups like New York Communities for Change and New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health; and research and advocacy organizations like National Employment Law Project and Strategic Organizing Center, among others.
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