• Premium News Login
  • WorkCompResearch Member Login
  • Solutions
    • WorkCompResearch
    • Virtual Claims Kit
    • FlashFormSSL
    • Advertising, Branding and Promotional Services
    • Insurance Center
    • CompEvent Conference Registration
  • News, Blogs & Events
    • News Center Home Page
    • View All Articles
    • Featured News
    • The Experts View
    • Current News
    • From Bob's Cluttered Desk
    • Workers' Comp Blog Wire
    • Workers' Comp Best Blogs
      • 2019 Best Blogs
      • Workers' Comp Best Blogs 2018
      • Workers' Comp Best Blogs 2017
      • Workers' Comp Best Blogs 2016
    • Calendar of Events
  • State Info
  • Forums
  • Kid's Chance

  • WorkCompResearch Login
  • Premium News Login
  • Request a Demo






Simplifying the Work of Workers' Compensation


Quick Help Center

I Need Workers'
Comp Insurance

I'm Injured
What Do I Do?

Simplifying the Work of Workers' Compensation


I Need Workers'
Comp Insurance
I'm Injured
What Do I Do?

Current News

  • Home
  • News, Blogs & Events
  • Current News

NY Gov Announces Legislation to Protect Workers at NY Airports

  • 01/30/17
  • WorkersCompensation.com


Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he is advancing new legislation to strengthen protections for airport workers against assaults and ensure these employees enjoy the same protections that currently apply to other transit workers across New York. The Transportation Worker Protection Act will consider an assault against an airport worker to be a class D felony, punishable by a maximum of seven years in prison. This action follows the recently reported attack on a Muslim employee at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday. The Governor made the announcement at a press conference in New York City with Hector Figueroa, President of the Airport Workers' Union 32BJ.

“In New York, we will not allow individuals to be abused or violated based on their job, race or religion. As the frequency of these attacks increase, so will our diligence,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Transportation Worker Protection Act provides additional safeguards for attacks on transportation workers and any such act will be prosecuted as a felony. New York has zero tolerance for intolerance, and we will work with the Senate and Assembly to make this law a reality.”

“Every day airport workers, regardless of their religion or race, work on the front lines to keep millions of passengers safe and secure,” said Hector Figueroa, President of the Airport Workers' Union 32BJ. “Discrimination doesn't only happen in the streets, it happens at work as well. This important ACT is a great move to keep airport workers safe in return for their hard work.”

Transportation Worker Protection Act

Transit workers employed on New York's bus, subway, light rail systems, and airports help transport hundreds of millions of passengers safely to their destinations each year.

Under current law, on-the-job assaults against transit employees – including bus operators, train operators, ticket inspectors, and conductors – are considered Class D felonies. However, current law does not specifically include airport workers in this category of transit employees. This new law will remove any ambiguity and explicitly include airport workers among those whom an assault against would result in increased penalties.

The legislation builds on past actions the Governor has taken to strengthen safety and protections for airport workers. A joint state-federal review team recently developed a series of recommendations to improve emergency response and enhance safety at JFK. Based on the review, New York is implementing four security recommendations:

  • Establishing a single, unified operations protocol for all security forces on the premises.
  • Conducting coordinated, joint training exercises between federal, State, and local security agencies.
  • Streamlining evacuation procedures at airport facilities.
  • Requiring comprehensive security and emergency preparedness training for all airport employees.

In 2014, the Governor also mandated a mandatory minimum wage increase for workers at LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport that raised the minimum wage from $9.00 to $10.10 in 2015. The Governor's living wage law will also raise salaries for New York City airport workers to $15.

The Governor also recently announced the formation of a New York State Hate Crime Task Force with members from the New York State Police and the New York State Division of Human Rights, to investigate hate crimes and conduct community outreach to educate New Yorkers of their rights. The Task Force will also coordinate with local District Attorneys to provide necessary support during the prosecution of hate crime cases. Some of the investigators have already been involved in the investigation of recent reported hate crimes including swastikas found in different parts of the state.

In addition, the Governor announced earlier this month the formation of a new Interfaith Advisory Council, led by Cardinal Dolan, to help achieve a greater understanding and tolerance of all religions and cultures, promote open-mindedness and inclusivity, and bolster the state's efforts to protect all New Yorkers.



Comments

Be the first person to comment!


You must Login or Register in order to read and make comments!


Member Login

Don't Have an Account? Click Here to Register.


Click Here If You Forgot Password

Click Here If You Are Having Problems Receiving Verification Email

Email to a Friend

Post Comment or Reply

Search

View By Section

  • View All Articles
  • Featured News
  • The Experts View
  • Current News
  • From Bob's Cluttered Desk
  • Workers' Comp Blog Wire
  • CompBob! Friday Joke

View By Author

  • Liz Carey
  • Frank Ferreri
  • Nancy Grover
  • Judge David Langham
  • Heather Schwartz Sanderson
  • Chriss Swaney
  • F.J. Thomas
  • Bob Wilson
  • Bill Zachry


WorkersCompensation.com, LLC. | All Rights Reserved
About Us | Advertise with Us | Contact Us | WorkCompResearch.com | Privacy Policy | Terms | Advertiser Login