Statement of New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento on passage of gig worker bill AB 5 in California

Albany - I applaud the California Labor Movement and elected officials for passing AB 5, a landmark bill that will provide basic protections to app-based workers in the growing gig economy.

Building on the historic success of our brothers and sisters in California, here in New York State we will not rest until app workers are afforded the same rights as other hardworking men and women, including the ability to join together to form a union.

Last year we released a report, written by the Worker Institute at Cornell University’s ILR School and underwritten by the NYS AFL-CIO that examines the experiences of on-demand workers.

We have been and will continue to work with the Governor and the State Legislature to make equal rights for app workers a reality.

###

The New York State AFL-CIO is a federation of 3,000 unions, representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families with one goal; to raise the standard of living and quality of life of all working people. We keep New York State Union Strong by fighting for better wages, better benefits and better working conditions. For more information on the Labor Movement in New York, visit www.nysaflcio.org.