Posts tagged New York State Legislature

    Press Release ● Unions

    Liberty Justice Center Sues Brooklyn Library Union Over Compulsory Dues

    September 28, 2026 // The Liberty Justice Center filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Brooklyn Public Library employee Jeffrey A. Schwartz, challenging the requirement that he pay union dues as a condition of his employment. In Schwartz v. Brooklyn Library Guild, Local 1482, AFL-CIO et al., the Liberty Justice Center represents Schwartz, a Government Documents Librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL). The lawsuit challenges the continued deduction of union dues from his wages by BPL and Local 1482. It alleges that the arrangement is unconstitutional because the City of New York is so deeply entwined with BPL’s governance—especially with respect to employee pay and benefits—that BPL’s actions are fairly attributable to the government. As a result, the lawsuit argues, BPL employees are entitled to the same First Amendment protections as other public employees.

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    Research ● Labor Unionization Unions

    Boarded The Teachers’ Union Takeover of NY School Districts

    November 21, 2023 // NYSUT’s involvement in state and federal elections is well-documented, but the low turnout in New York’s generally nonpartisan school board elections has given it an even bigger opportunity. The union also isn’t stopping with school boards: its electoral efforts involve elevating members to local, state and federal office, positions from which union members could eventually affect every facet of education policy. The system of campaign finance rules that regulate everything from elections for governor down to town assessors does not cover school board elections.

    benefits Board of Elections campaign finance canvassing charter schools Civil Service Employees Association collective bargaining condition of employment contract negotiations CUNY education policy elected officials electoral influence email FOIA FOIL Freedom of Information Law Manhattan Institute New York New York City New York State Legislature New York State United Teachers NYSUT Pipeline Project pay payroll deduction Pension Deductions phone banks private sector Public Employees public school regulatory oversight retiree health care school board social media Stettine v. Suffolk SUNY Taylor Law teachers’ unions Transparency Triborough Amendment

    Blog Op-ed / Commentary ● Labor Unionization Unions

    Op-ed – New York: Lawmakers pass bill banning ‘captive audience’ meetings

    June 14, 2023 // “Employers have become much more aggressive in using captive audience meetings to force workers into hearing the employer’s one-sided propaganda on unionization and other issues,” Appelbaum said in a statement following the legislation’s passage. “These meetings often leave workers feeling pressured and intimidated. It is time that the law catches up to the reality of the moment by allowing workers to refuse to attend these meetings without fear of retaliation.” Three states, Connecticut, Oregon and, most recently, Minnesota have banned the meetings. After the Connecticut ban passed, a coalition of U.S companies led by the U.S Chamber of Commerce sued the state in federal court, arguing that the law is preempted by the National Labor Relations Act and that it breached employers First Amendment-protected freedom of speech.

    Amazon captive audience meetings Congress Connecticut First Amendment Jennifer Abruzzo Karines Reyes Kathy Hochul Minnesota New York New York State Legislature NLRA NLRB Oregon REI RWDSU Starbucks Trader Joe’s U.S. Chamber of Commerce unionizing

    News Article Research ● Labor Unionization Unions

    HEMMED OUT: Why Legislative Employees Can’t Unionize Under the Taylor Law

    December 12, 2022 // Union advocates have argued that employees of the New York State Legislature are covered by the Taylor Law, the 1967 state law that requires state and local public employers, including state agencies, municipalities, and school districts, to recognize and bargain with employee unions. However, applying the Taylor Law to the Senate, the Assembly, or individual members of either house would raise numerous practical and constitutional issues, and any attempt to enforce a contract negotiated under the Taylor Law would likely be voided by state courts.

    Assembly legislature New York State Legislature Public Employment Relations Board Senate state court Taylor Law