S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3263
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 22, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HAWLEY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to ending the ability of a
striking worker to collect unemployment benefits
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 592 of the labor law, as amended by chapter 415 of
the laws of 1983, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 177 of the laws of
2010, is amended to read as follows:
S 592. Suspension of accumulation of benefit rights. 1. Industrial
controversy. (a) The accumulation of benefit rights by a claimant shall
be suspended [during a period of seven consecutive weeks beginning with]
the day after such claimant lost his or her employment because of a
strike or other industrial controversy except for lockouts, including
concerted activity not authorized or sanctioned by the recognized or
certified bargaining agent of the claimant, and other concerted activity
conducted in violation of any existing collective bargaining agreement,
in the establishment in which he or she was employed[, except that bene-
fit rights may be accumulated before the expiration of such seven weeks
beginning with the day after such strike or other industrial controversy
was terminated].
(b) Benefits shall not be suspended under this section if:
(i) The employer hires a permanent replacement worker for the employ-
ee's position. A replacement worker shall be presumed to be [permanent]
TEMPORARY unless the employer [certifies in writing that] DENIES the
employee [will be able] THE OPPORTUNITY to return to his or her prior
position upon conclusion of the strike[, in the event the strike termi-
nates prior to the conclusion of the employee's eligibility for benefit
rights under this chapter]. In the event the employer does not permit
such return [after such certification], THE REPLACEMENT WORKER SHALL BE
DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT WORKER AND the employee
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02077-01-5
A. 3263 2
shall be entitled to recover any benefits lost as a result of the [seven
week] suspension of benefits[, and the department may impose a penalty
upon the employer of up to seven hundred fifty dollars per employee per
week of benefits lost. The penalty collected shall be paid into the
unemployment insurance control fund established pursuant to section five
hundred fifty-two-b of this article]; or
(ii) The commissioner determines that the claimant:
(A) is not employed by an employer that is involved in the industrial
controversy that caused his or her unemployment and is not participating
in the industrial controversy; or
(B) is not in a bargaining unit involved in the industrial controversy
that caused his or her unemployment and is not participating in the
industrial controversy.
2. Concurrent payments prohibited. No days of total unemployment shall
be deemed to occur in any week with respect to which or a part of which
a claimant has received or is seeking unemployment benefits under an
unemployment compensation law of any other state or of the United
States, provided that this provision shall not apply if the appropriate
agency of such other state or of the United States finally determines
that he is not entitled to such unemployment benefits.
3. Terms of suspension. No waiting period may be served during a
suspension period.
The suspension of accumulation of benefit rights shall not be termi-
nated by subsequent employment of the claimant irrespective of when the
claim is filed except as provided in subdivision one and shall not be
confined to a single benefit year.
[A "week" as used in subdivision one of this section means any seven
consecutive calendar days.]
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.