Assemblyman Rory I. Lancman
Assemblyman
Rory Lancman
Committee Chair
NYS Seal Contact Information: Allison Weingarten
Legislative Director
718-820-0241
New York State Assembly
Subcommittee on
Workplace Safety
Monthly Update
May 2011

Legislation Introduced In Wake of Dominique Strauss-Kahn Attack To Protect Hotel Workers From Assault

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Assemblyman Lancman at a press conference at the Sofitel Hotel in Manhattan announcing legislation to protect hotel workers from on-the-job assault

As Assemblyman Lancman discussed on Fox 5's Good Day New York, he has introduced legislation to protect hotel workers from on-the-job assaults by requiring hotels to provide staff entering hotel rooms with electronic "alert" devises capable of notifying hotel security of an emergency.

The bill was announced at a press conference in front of the Sofitel Hotel and has been covered by the Daily News, NY1, CBS New York, Albany Times Union, AM New York and 1010 WINS.

As reported in the NY Times, hotel assaults are all too common, and many veteran housekeepers have stories of being groped or inappropriately propositioned by hotel guests while working alone in a hotel room.

"We can no longer send housekeepers into hotel rooms, isolated from other workers and hotel security, without giving them a means to immediately access help in the event of an assault," said Assemblyman Lancman.

"As we have seen, workers in hotels often face dangerous situations alone," Said Peter Ward, President of the New York Hotel & Motel Trades Council. "This reasonable proposal would ensure that thousands of hotel workers are not put at unnecessary risk."

Subcommittee and NYS DoL Sponsor First New York State
"Immigrant Workers' Rights Awareness Weekend!"
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Assemblyman Lancman, New York City Comptroller John Liu and Assembly Members Alec Brook-Krasny and Guillermo Linares announcing the commencement the New York State Immigrant Workers' Rights Awareness Weekend

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Assemblyman Lancman and Comptroller Liu at the Immigrant Workers' Rights Awareness Weekend event in Richmond Hill

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Assemblyman Lancman and New York City Council Member Debi Rose join Assemblyman Matthew Titone at the Immigrant Workers' Rights Awareness event in Staten Island

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Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and Assemblyman Lancman join Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh at the Immigrant Workers' Rights Awareness Weekend event in Manhattan

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Assemblyman Lancman with representatives of Assemblyman Carl Heastie, Comptroller Liu and Make the Road NY at the Immigrant Workers' Rights Awareness Weekend event in the Bronx

This year marked the first ever NYS Immigrant Workers' Rights Awareness Weekend, led by the Assembly Subcommittee on Workplace Safety in collaboration with the New York State Department of Labor and over 100 government agencies, elected officials and community based organizations. The effort grew out of the knowledge that immigrant workers are frequently subjected to unfair and unsafe working conditions. Events were held at fifteen locations throughout the state on Saturday and Sunday May 14-15, and everyone was invited to learn about their rights on the job.

New York State Commemorates
the Second Annual Occupational Health Awareness Week

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Assemblyman Lancman receiving the Safety and Health Champion Award from Marie Diven-Stilutti of the NYS Occupational Health Clinics Network

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Assemblyman Lancman on the Assembly floor with the delegation from the Occupational Health Clinics Network in Albany and Father Frank O'Connor of Albany

Assemblyman Lancman was honored to announce the commencement of Occupational Health Awareness Week and to introduce a delegation from the Occupational Health Clinics Network on the Assembly floor. Occupational Health Awareness (OHA) Week is an annual state event which recognizes the efforts being made to reduce workplace injury and illness. Father Frank O'Connor of Albany led a prayer to commence the legislative session which recognized the importance of the week and its effort to keep all workers safe and healthy, and Assemblyman Lancman introduced a resolution establishing OHA week, which passed unanimously in the Assembly.

Safety at the Intersection of Business and Labor

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Assemblyman Lancman speaking at a forum on "Safety In the Workplace," hosted by the Business and Labor Coalition of New York

Assemblyman Lancman was a featured presenter at "Safety in the Workplace," a breakfast and panel discussion hosted by the Business and Labor Coalition of New York and the Mason Tenders District Council. The panel discussion focused on the benefits of safe working environments for labor and industry and the progress that can be made when labor and business work closely together. Assemblyman Lancman emphasized that safety is a shared interest for workers and business owners alike.

SOMOS Conference Draws Legislative Support

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Subcommittee on Workplace Safety's Legislative Director Allison Weingarten joins a panel of legislators at the 24th annual SOMOS Conference

The Subcommittee on Workplace Safety's Legislative Director Allison Weingarten represented the Subcommittee in this year's SOMOS New York conference, "Está en Nuestras Manos: Achieving Hispanic Empowerment." SOMOS is dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community to participate in public policy making and to further the community's economic development. In addition to the organization's many objectives, SOMOS also addresses the need for safe and healthy employment opportunities. The Subcommittee was honored to participate in the conference and to engage with other legislators and advocates on this issue.