Legislative Alert: February 2, 2024
President's Message
Restore Fairness for Workers in the Unemployment System
New York’s unemployment system is not meeting the needs of workers who lose employment through no fault of their own. The New York State AFL-CIO joins its affiliates in calling for immediate action to ensure that the State provides equitable benefits moving forward. The current maximum benefit is capped at $504 per week, which is not sufficient for working families to get by on. There is also still a penalty that infringes on union members’ eligibility for unemployment in the event of a strike. Both issues should be addressed immediately.
The unemployment benefit replaces wages for up to 26 weeks if a worker loses employment due to economic reasons, layoffs, or other circumstances that are not their fault. The benefit is 50% of the worker’s pay, up to a maximum set-in statute. The maximum benefit is supposed to increase each year until it reaches 50% of the state’s average weekly wage (AWW), and then it will be indexed.
Unfortunately, the maximum benefit has been stuck at 2019 levels, $504 per week, due to the unemployment trust fund deficit that, accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clearly $504 per week, is not enough for working families to survive on; New York's maximum benefit is less than that of every surrounding state. Had the benefit increased as scheduled it would now be at 44% of the AWW, which would be well over $750 per week. We need to increase the maximum benefit level now so that in the event of an economic downturn or other unforeseen occurrence, workers will know that they can bridge the gap if they lose work.
In addition to increasing the maximum benefit, we need to end the penalty for workers who exercise their federal right to strike. Right now, every worker who qualifies for unemployment has a one-week waiting period before they can collect benefits. Union members who are on strike are singled out for an additional two-week suspension period for a total of three weeks of waiting for eligibility.
We cannot allow the maximum benefit to stagnate any longer and we must end the unfair and unjust penalty for union members.
Mario Cilento, President
Upcoming Meeting
LABOR LOBBYISTS MEETING
Monday, February 5, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
This meeting will be located at the Albany office of the NYS AFL-CIO,
100 South Swan St. Albany, NY. Lunch will be served.
This meeting is for labor representatives only.
Assemblymember Harry Bronson, Chair of the Committee on Labor will be the guest speaker.
INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE MEETING
Monday, February 5, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
This meeting will be located at the Albany office of the NYS AFL-CIO,
100 South Swan St. Albany, NY. Lunch will be served.
NURSE ISSUES TASK FORCE MEETING
Tuesday, February 6, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
This meeting will be located at the Albany office of the NYS AFL-CIO,
100 South Swan St. Albany, NY. Lunch will be served.