Res. No. 598

Resolution calling on New York City health care institutions to contract with industrial laundry companies that respect workers’ legal rights and adhere to area standards for wages and benefits.

By Council Members De La Rosa, Hanif and Cabán

Whereas, There are 45 industrial laundry companies in the New York City metropolitan area that employ nearly 3,000 workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and

Whereas, Industrial laundry workers are primarily immigrant women workers, according to a 2018 report published by CLEAN NYC; and

Whereas, New York’s industrial laundry workers have organized and bargained for decades to establish and maintain area standards for their workplaces, including quality health insurance for all employees, which they rely on to sustain themselves and their families; and

Whereas, Despite these efforts, some industrial laundry companies flout area standards and repeatedly violate state and federal health, safety and labor laws; and

Whereas, The Laundry, Distribution & Food Service Joint Board, affiliated with Workers United, SEIU, the labor union that represents workers at FDR Services Corp., reports that the company has refused to enter into a collective bargaining agreement that matches area standards for its workers since their last contract expired in 2017; and

Whereas, While servicing New York City hospitals and nursing homes, including Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, FDR Services Corp. has repeatedly violated federal and state health, safety and labor laws; and

Whereas, FDR Services Corp was fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 2019 for five serious safety violations that could have resulted in death or serious harm; and

Whereas, In 2021, FDR Services Corp. reached a settlement with the New York State Attorney General’s Office including $400,000 in backpay for ten workers who were unlawfully fired and denied paid sick leave when they were ill with COVID-19; and

Whereas, The National Labor Relations Board issued complaints against FDR Services Corp. for alleged labor law violations in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022; and

Whereas, In April 2023 more than two dozen elected officials wrote a letter to FDR Services Corp. calling on the company to reach agreement on a fair contract and the company has not done so; and

Whereas, New Yorkers deserve to have safe workplaces and their right to bargain collectively respected by their employers; and

Whereas, Most industrial laundry operators serving health care institutions in the New York City adhere to area standards; and

Whereas, Most hospitals and nursing homes in New York City have chosen to use responsible laundry contractors that follow the law and adhere to area workplace standards; and

Whereas, Valuable health care dollars should not be sent to repeat lawbreakers such as FDR Services Corp.; now, therefore, be it,

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on New York City health care institutions to contract with industrial laundry companies that respect workers’ legal rights and adhere to area standards for wages and benefits.  

NEM

LS 16535

5/24/24