REMARKS
Lincoln Restler, Chair of the Committee on Governmental Operations, on Intro 69's impact on New York City's Human Rights Law
0:10:41
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3 min
Council Member Lincoln Restler discusses Intro 69, spotlighting issues around employees unknowingly waiving rights under New York City's Human Rights Law.
- Expresses gratitude towards Chair Williams for the hearing and acknowledges the administration's improved clarity on the subject.
- Explains that employees are often compelled to sign contracts that strip them of their rights including discrimination, harassment, and workplace violence claims, within a limited timeframe.
- Criticizes major New York employers for engaging in practices that weaken legal protections for their workers.
- Advocates for extending the legal action timeframe from six months to three years to better support harassment or discrimination victims.
- Requests prompt feedback on the legislation, with special thanks to Chair Williams and Speaker Adams for their support.
Lincoln Restler
0:10:41
Great.
0:10:41
Thank you.
0:10:42
Thank you so much, Chairman and I wanna express special gratitude to Chair Williams for the opportunity for a hearing on this bill today and for her tremendous partnership as a colleague here in the council, and I wanna thank the administration for more warmly testifying about intro 69 than the last time we had an opportunity to engage on it.
0:11:05
So thank you for crisper and clear testimony today on this topic.
0:11:11
Just briefly, because I know it's not the central thrust of our hearing, but it just to explain intro 69 on the record, you know, under the city human rights law, our landmark human rights law that I know that our colleagues at the human rights commission and and many New Yorkers are immensely proud of.
0:11:29
New Yorkers have employees have 3 years to file claims for discrimination, harassment, violence, and the work place.
0:11:36
And employees too many employees have been unknowingly signing away their rights and their protections buy in contracts that their employers are giving to them.
0:11:47
And this is not a rare occurrence.
0:11:51
Unfortunately, some of the largest in lawyers in the state of New York are perpetuating this practice, and it is undermining the protections that New Yorkers are guaranteed.
0:12:02
Employers like Northwell Health, the largest employer in the state of New York.
0:12:07
Raymore Flanagan, FedEx, other big corporate entities are hurting New Yorkers.
0:12:15
It is an app salute tragedy when harassment and discrimination occurs in the workplace.
0:12:20
But the idea that New Yorkers would unwittingly, unknowingly sign away their own rights to be able to hold their employer accountable when that horrible action happens is unacceptable.
0:12:34
And the truth is many of these employers only give their employees a 6 month window after the incident occurs to pursue legal action, and For those who have been victims of harassment or discrimination, it takes time to process what's occurred.
0:12:47
It takes time to find a lawyer.
0:12:49
It takes time to file legal action 6 months.
0:12:52
Is essentially a way for employers to prevent their employees from pursuing legal action together.
0:13:01
That's what that time frame means.
0:13:02
We created the law where 3 years is the appropriate time frame for employees be able to pursue legal action for good reason.
0:13:11
And it needs we should be protecting that law, and I'm really appreciative of the opportunity for hearing on intros 69 today, appreciative of the the human rights commission's warm testimony.
0:13:22
If there are If there is feedback on this law, we would request that you provide it as quickly as possible in writing because we are eager to move this bill forward.
0:13:30
So thank you very much, really just special thanks to Chair Williams for being an exceptional partner and to speaker Adams and her team for their willingness to to support this as well.
0:13:40
Thank you very much.