Issues

New York State Workplace Violence Prevention Act

AFSCME affiliates in New York led a coalition of unions that pushed a workplace violence prevention bill through both houses of the legislature.  The bill, which was signed into law in June, covers all state and local government workplaces except schools for students K-12.  It requires all public-sector employers to evaluate any workplace to determine whether major risk factors for assault or homicide are present. The law gives five examples of such risk factors: working in public settings, working late night or early morning hours, exchanging money with the public, working alone or in small numbers, uncontrolled access to the workplace, and working in a place that has had previous security problems.  Employers with at least 20 full time employees must have a written workplace violence protection program that lists the risk factors that are present and the methods that will be used to prevent incidents. Covered employers mush also provide training to their workers at the time of their initial assignment and annually thereafter.

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Frank Cosentino
CSEA Local 1000, New York

Frank Cosentino

"The most important thing my union does is keep me safe on the job. Whether we're fighting for ergonomics standards for office workers or bullet proof vest for corrections officers, the safety of members comes first."