Albany Update Volume 5 - February 11, 2005 LABOR - Year Ahead Overview In 2004, the major labor legislative battle revolved around raising the minimum wage. The legislature passed a minimum wage increase that was then vetoed by the Governor. However both the Assembly and the Senate overrode Governor Pataki's veto of the wage increase, and it was enacted into law. The veto override was made possible because of the AFL-CIO and the Working Families Party's support of key Senate Republicans. In 2005 many of the key issues for labor will resolve around the budget. This reflects the ever-increasing power of the public employee unions within the AFL-CIO. The labor movement will focus its attention on increasing aid to education and battling Governor Pataki's cuts to the state's Medicaid program. Labor will also fight to make sure that the temporary tax increases, which are set to sunset, remain in effect. In the private sector there will be a major effort to reform Workers Compensation. Employers will want to cut costs while the labor movement will attempt to increase payments to injured workers. In 2004 the Senate and Assembly came to agreement on a Workers Compensation reform package, but the Governor rejected the proposal. This year the Governor has proposed eliminating the Workers Compensation Board and merging it into the Labor Department. Other issues to watch this session include the attempts to reform the Wicks Law, reform of the section 240 liability and the Governor's efforts to merge the State Labor Relations Board and the Public Employees Relations Board. With reform the buzzword in Albany, labor legislation will be a major focus of legislative activity in the current legislative session. Upcoming Fundraisers Monday, February 14th NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee - Albany, $1,000 Senator John Bonacic [R] - Housing Construction & Comm Development - Albany, $400 Senator Bill Stachowski [D] - Ranking member, Ethics; Investigations & Gov’t operations - Albany, $300 Assem Will Barclay [R] - Ranking member, Insurance Comm - Albany, $250 Assem Luis Diaz [D] - Albany, $250 Assem Peter Rivera [D] - Chair, Mental Health; Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force - Albany, $350 Assem Sheldon Silver [D] - Majority Leader - Albany, $1,000 Tuesday, February 15th Assem Annie Rabbit [R] - Albany, $125 Assem Catherine Young [R] - Ranking mem—Housing Commitee - Albany, $275 Monday, February 28th Senator John Flanagan [R] Senator Betty Little [R] Senator Stephen Saland [R] Assem Adam Bradley [D] Assem Michael Fitzpateick [R] If you have any questions about fundraisers, please call Sandy in the Albany office, 518 462-4620. Back to newsletter list

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