Governor Pataki approves legislation supported by DC 37 requiring employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence

District Council 37, the city's largest municipal employee union, successfully urged Governor Pataki to approve new workplace violence standard legislation (S.6441/Spano-A.9691/John). The Governor signed the bill on June 9 after it had been overwhelmingly approved by the State Legislature.

For the first time, this legislation mandates workplace violence assessments resulting in written plans. It also helps educate workers and employers of the threat of workplace violence and how to prevent it from happening. It requires all employers of fifty or more to develop a written plan to address workplace violence by identifying potential areas and situations where violence could occur. After developing a written anti-violence plan, employers must tell employees of risk areas and how risks could be reduced through corrective actions.

"Stopping the increased incidents of workplace violence and protecting workers is a union priority," said Lillian Roberts, Executive Director of DC 37. "I wrote to the Governor urging him to approve this measure. It is a real victory for our members and for those who work in educational, social services, correctional health care, and mental health settings where workplace violence happens all too often. We lobbied and fought hard for this amendment to the labor law, and we are pleased that the Governor had the wisdom to pass this bill."

District Council 37, representing 121,000 members and 50,000 retirees, is New York City's largest public employee union.