CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PDF OF THE MEMO:
https://www.cwa1168.org/wp-content/uploads/updat-2.pdf
To: All NYS CWA Local Presidents
From: Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President
Date: March 21, 2020
Subject: COVID-19 – Employment Related Emergency Corona Virus Bills
In the past days, the US Congress and the NYS legislature passed a flurry of emergency relief packages trying to address urgent needs due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
In this email, we’re providing some fact sheets on the laws that passed.
On the federal level, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which was signed into law on Wednesday, March 18th, gives many American workers short term (2 weeks) and long term (12 weeks) paid leave if they need to take time off work because of the virus, But the measure excludes nearly half of private-sector workers, because employers with over 500 employees are excluded from coverage. Congressional Republicans and Trump argued that those employers should be responsible for paying sick leave for their workers, even many low wage workers at employers like McDonald’s do not have any such coverage. The law will go into effect on April 2nd, 2020.
On the state level, Governor Cuomo signed a similar law on Wednesday which also provides 2 weeks of paid leave and other benefits to employees who are subject to a mandatory or precautionary order or quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. The law immediately went into effect.
The federal bill is meant to be a floor and not a ceiling meaning if the state bill is stronger, then the stronger language shall apply. Where there are collective bargaining agreements, the paid sick time applies in addition to whatever employer-provided paid sick time exists.
The state has also waived the seven-day waiting period for unemployment insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to closures or quarantines related to the Coronavirus, according to the State Department of Labor.
Here are some useful links to share from the AFL:
https://nysaflcio.org/covid-19-nys-agency-guidance
Dennis G. Trainor
Vice President
CWA District One8
