The 2007 legislative session resulted in Gov. Eliot Spitzer approving seven bills supported by Local 237 into law. He also vetoed three worker-friendly bills, and another bill is pending.

“I’m pleased that the governor signed many bills that will protect our members’ lives and interests,” said President Gregory Floyd. “The 9/11 laws are critical, and I hope all our members who helped with cleanup and recovery will make sure they take advantage of the registration extensions.”

Patricia Stryker, Local 237’s recording secretary and director of its Political Action and Legislation Department, said she was “very disappointed” with the three vetoes, but said, “We will pursue the goal of getting these bills passed and will introduce new pieces of legislation as well for 2008.”


Approved

9/11 Workers’ Compensation
Registry Extender
S.4067 (Lanza)/A.4940 (Bing)
The Workers’ Compensation law was extended to give 9/11 workers and volunteers an additional year to register their participation and protect their right to file a claim for current illness or future health problems related to cleanup and recovery efforts. The new deadline to register is Aug. 13, 2008. The original deadline was Aug. 14, 2007. For more information about registering call Neil Abramson at 212-964-3300.

9/11 Disability Extender
S.6099 (Golden)/A.9138 (Abbate)
Extends by two years the time a member may file a sworn statement with a retirement system regarding participation in cleanup and recovery after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, to be eligible for accidental disability.

9/11 Mental Health Counseling
S.3039 (Maltese)/A.6621 (Silver)
Provides reimbursement for unreimbursed or unreimbursable counseling expense or indebtedness incurred by relief workers who worked at Ground Zero.

9/11 Vehicle Workers’ Disability Pension
S.4895/A.5780 (Abbate)
This law provides disability benefits to persons, including stock workers in NYCERS, who repaired, cleaned or rehabilitated vehicles or equipment owned by New York City, which were contaminated by the 9/11 attacks. [See Newsline, June/July/August, page 5.]

Chapter 244 – Weingarten Rights
Establishes an employee’s right to have a union representative present during questioning that may lead to disciplinary action.

Blood Donation
S.583-A (Nozzolio)/A.3818-A
(Gottfried)
Requires employers with more than 20 employees to grant employees working 20 or more hours a week 3 hours leave of absence a year to donate blood.

Maximum Shelter Allowance
S.4329 (Lanza)/A.7905 (Lopez)
Increases the shelter allowance for individuals and families receiving public assistance and residing in city, state or federal public housing. [See Newsline, September, page 1.]


Vetoed

Vehicle Workers/Workers’ Compensation
S.6107/A.8194 (John)
Would provide Workers’ Compensation benefits to public and private workers and volunteers who repaired, cleaned or rehabilitated vehicles or equipment that were contaminated by the 9/11 attacks.

Special Accidental Death Benefit
S.3417 (Maltese)/A.6238 (Abbate)
Would provide a special accidental death benefit to beneficiaries of certain deceased employees.

Accident Disability
S.2486 (Padavan)/A.4704 (Abbate)
Would amend the retirement and Social Security law, in relation to accidental disability for certain members of the New York City Employees Retirement System (NYCERS) who are injured in the performance of their duties. Peace officers would receive a 75 percent disability retirement benefit when injured on the job.


Pending

Provisional Employees
S.6229 (Committee on Rules)/A.9068-A (Abbate)
This bill addresses issues regarding provisional employees, which were raised by the New York Court of Appeals in its decision, City of Long Beach v. Civil Service Employees Association. It would provide a mechanism for the creation of a binding plan to be submitted by employers for approval to the state civil service commission.