- By Marcia E. Lynch
- News
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Because of current state law, the resolution notes, hundreds of educational institution hourly employees in Tompkins County cannot access unemployment benefits when temporarily laid off between academic terms or during school break periods, creating hardship for working families, even though similar employees in most other fields are able to do so. The presidents of the United Auto Workers Local 2300, representing hourly workers at Cornell University, and the Ithaca City School District’s Paraprofessionals Union were among nine members of the public who urged legislative support of the resolution, prior to the vote.
The Legislature debated the proposal for more than half-an-hour, with much of the discussion focused on whether action should be delayed to permit further examination – since Legislator Shinagawa filed the proposal as an individual, it had not gone through the Legislature’s committee process. A proposal to refer to committee narrowly failed by a vote of 6-7. Advocates of delay, including Legislator Dick Booth, argued that more information was needed on matters including financial impact and that the committee structure should be used to allow further examination. But Shinagawa countered that expeditious action was necessary to communicate a sense of priority during the current state legislative session. Legislator Mike Sigler said he could have supported the measure, had it gone through committee review.
The resolution also calls for the state to provide expanded opportunities for jobless workers to upgrade their skills through job training programs and for improved access to the system to workers with limited English-speaking sills. It will be sent to Governor Elliot Spitzer, Acting Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith; Senators James Seward, Michael Nozzolio and George Winner; and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton.
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