A con con threatens N.Y. workers’ rights

The notion that a constitutional convention should be held to give women a voice is dangerous for all New Yorkers.

I’ve heard this idea here and there, and I read it in these pages last week, in a piece written by former Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum — which claimed that because women have been underrepresented in past conventions, a new one is necessary to remedy what went wrong.

But a constitutional convention would be a dire threat to the labor protections that so many women and men, like her late husband, DC 37 Executive Director Victor Gotbaum, worked so hard to win. These achievements are not exclusive to union members. They benefit the entire public.

The late Mr. Gotbaum, a lion of labor, fiercely advocated for workers, guarding his members’ jobs and pensions during New York City’s fiscal crisis. He did not let his members lose their jobs — because he understood that once you give something up, it’s gone forever.

In fighting for policies like higher wages or pensions, which wind up uplifting not only union members, but society as a whole, the master negotiator knew the Golden Rule. You never place a hard-earned victory back on the table. You never negotiate against yourself.

That’s exactly what a constitutional convention would do. It would open a Pandora’s Box for union members and all New Yorkers that may very well leave them stripped of their hard-earned triumphs — including pension protections that would most certainly be endangered.

Some, like Ms. Gotbaum, call this fearmongering, but it is simply fact-telling.

Enshrined in the state Constitution are rights that could be rolled back. For instance, it guarantees every child in this state a right to a free public education.

Why would we put that right on the table?

When you open the door to a convention, the cunning, deep-pocketed interests will walk through it — and start campaigning to hurt everyday people.

For example, a movement misleadingly labeled “right to work” is sweeping the nation, and unions worry this bad policy could take root here in New York. The constitutional convention would be their perfect opportunity for those who led crusades to water down union rights in 28 other states to come here.

Statistically speaking, workers in states where right to work became the law of the land face negative impacts whether they work for a union or not.

In right to work states, poverty levels are 21.4% higher, and 13% of workers under 65 are uninsured, compared to 9.4% in pro-union states. Only 47% of private sector employers in right to work states offer health insurance to their employees; and if those workplaces have less than 50 workers that drops to only 30.1% of employers.

New York, the birthplace of the labor movement, should never put these rights on the table.

The state Constitution also forbids pension reductions for our workers and protects workers’ compensation in case a person is injured on the job.

It guarantees the right to public assistance and to shelter, both vital to getting people back up on their feet.

The Independent Democratic Conference worked closely with labor and secured 12 weeks of paid family leave so that parents could finally spend time with a newborn or a person could tend to a sick loved one. Together, they fought for a $15 minimum wage.

While these particular issues didn’t necessarily impact all of their members, union leaders stood up for every working person in New York. When standards rise, it ultimately benefits everyone.

We must can the con con so that interests which would rather not give employees three months off or higher wages cannot swoop in and change these laws.

We already have a process in place to amend our Constitution through two legislative votes and a referendum. Over the years, we’ve seen over 200 amendments accepted by the men and women of this great state.

That process is narrower in scope and doesn’t endanger all of our hard-won victories. I urge every New Yorker to not negotiate against themselves and vote no on Nov. 7.

Savino is a Senator who represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. She is a former vice president of political action for Local 371, DC 37.