Res. No. 690-A
Resolution proclaiming that the New York City Council stands in solidarity with public workers in Wisconsin, Ohio, and in other states around the country as their struggle for dignity and economic security is one shared by all New Yorkers and Americans.
By Council Member Jackson, The Speaker (Council Member Quinn) and Council Members Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Dromm, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Lander, Mealy, Mendez, Rivera, Rose, Sanders Jr., Van Bramer, Williams, Foster, Vacca, Eugene, Barron, Wills, Levin, Cabrera, Weprin, Mark-Viverito, Koslowitz, Lappin, Nelson, Seabrook, The Public Advocate (Mr. de Blasio) and Council Members Gennaro and Crowley
Whereas, Unions in the United States are legally recognized as representatives of workers in the public and private sectors; and
Whereas, In 2010, union members accounted for 24.2 percent of wage and salary workers in New York, while the national average was 11.9 percent; and
Whereas, New York's union membership rate was the highest in the nation in 2010; and
Whereas, Unions use collective-bargaining to secure wages, benefits and working conditions for their membership; and
Whereas, Collective-bargaining helps to regulate conditions of employment such as discrimination and exploitation of workers; and
Whereas, Public workers in New York and across the country educate our children, maintain our highways, ensure our safety, care for our seniors and are stewards of our health; and
Whereas, Wisconsin State Governor Scott Walker signed a bill establishing an anti-union law, eliminating most collective-bargaining rights for the state's public-employee unions in Wisconsin, setting a precedent other states could follow, with the broadest move in decades to curb union rights; and
Whereas, According to published reports, such as those in the Associated Press, the law takes away the ability of unions to bargain over pensions and health care, limits pay raises to inflation, eliminates the automatic collection of dues by the state and requires each public union in the state to get recertified before the National Labor Relations Board every year by a vote; and
Whereas, The law also requires public-employee union members to contribute 5.8 percent of their pay to pensions and to pay 12.6 percent of health-care premiums out of their wages; and
Whereas, Public workers in Ohio are facing similar legislative proposals to eliminate their collective-bargaining rights; and
Whereas, The law signed by Governor Walker and proposals in other states such as Ohio, demonstrate an anti-worker trend, are short-sighted and will adversely impact the majority of public workers who are already struggling with the cost of homeownership, housing, health care and education costs; and
Whereas, The actions of Governor Scott Walker and the Wisconsin State Legislature are not representative of thoughtful collaboration or dialogue between government and citizens and do little to promote dignity for public workers or respect for the democratic process; and
Whereas, The leadership of Wisconsin, Ohio and all other states must consider all options as they resolve to mediate budget shortfalls and simultaneously consider the concerns of the citizens they were elected to serve; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York stands in solidarity with public workers in Wisconsin, Ohio, and in other states around the country as their struggle for dignity and economic security is one shared by all New Yorkers and Americans.
FCC
LS #2152
3/16/11