Dozens of protesters gathered at Metropolis Corridor this week to demand the quick passage of the No Extra 24 Act, persevering with a every day sit-in marketing campaign to strain Metropolis Council and Mayor Zohran Mamdani to finish the 24-hour workday.
There are roughly 130,000 house care employees in New York Metropolis — about 90% of whom are girls, and about 70% of whom are immigrants.
Labor organizations and residential care employees — who’re disproportionately impacted by the 24-hour workday — initially introduced their intention to prepare every day sit-ins beginning March 18 throughout a protest earlier this month.
“I have been working 24-hour shifts for 16 years, and it has ruined my health,” stated Tan Yinghao, a house care employee who attended Thursday’s protest. “There is no such thing as a 24-hour workday anywhere in the world, and it must stop immediately. Today, I am very proud to sit in peaceful protest with my fellow home care workers in front of City Hall.”
Later through the March 18 protest, Speaker Julie Menin addressed the gang with Manhattan Metropolis Council Member Christopher Marte, the sponsor of the No Extra 24 Act, and introduced a tentative schedule for the invoice to be handed by mid-April — after which protesters cheered.
“I feel like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, you know?” Marte stated. “I feel like we’re getting close.”
Menin and Marte each promised that no modifications could be made to the invoice’s language, which abolishes the 24-hour workday totally, and that it could be voted on as it’s presently offered on Legistar.
Protesters stated the 24-hour work day takes a lethal toll on employees — particularly house care aides who’re required to stick with their sufferers in a single day and stay on name the complete time.Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo
The No Extra 24 Act, launched by Marte thrice since 2022, would require employers to schedule employees for not more than 12 hours a day until sure standards are met, together with a two-week discover and written consent from the employee.
It could additionally restrict these extra hours to not more than 2 hours per day, capped at 10 hours per week.
Supporters of the invoice defined that not solely are employees not paid for a full 24-hour shift because of the state’s 13-hour rule — which permits employers to pay solely 13 hours of a 24-hour workday, claiming breaks for meals and sleep — however the bodily toll it takes on their our bodies could be lethal.
“I am here to support the home health aides whose lives and bodies have been and continue to be broken and destroyed by the inhumane practice of a 24-hour work day, and the immoral and indecent practice of only paying them for 13 of those hours,” stated Raquel Irizarry, who works with the New York State Poor Individuals’s Marketing campaign. “I have heard workers testify that their health can never be recovered by these brutal practices, and no amount of money can buy it back for them.”
Irizarry emphasised that these employees maintain everybody’s neighbors, households, and family members of their time of want.
Dwelling care employees argued that it’s not nearly wage theft, however fairly about work-life stability, dignity, and high quality of life.
Protesters expressed that when employees are scheduled for 24-hour shifts, they lose valuable time with their households and endure a bodily burden that diminishes their high quality of life.
“It’s about reclaiming our time,” stated Vittoria Fariello, a district chief of the Democratic Social gathering in Manhattan. “It’s about making sure that people are not only paid for every hour worked, but that they’re not stuck at work for 24-hour shifts. It’s unacceptable.”
Dwelling care employees additionally argued that when they’re sleep disadvantaged and bodily impaired by the 24-hour workday, it robs sufferers of the standard care they deserve.
Dwelling care employees referred to as on the New York Metropolis Council and Mayor Zohran Mamdani to complete negotiations and permit the invoice to come back to a vote.Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo
“There have been huge labor movement victories for the eight-hour workday, making sure we have weekends and holidays,” Marte pressured. “But for New York City to be one of the most progressive cities in our country and allow the 24-hour workday is a stain on our reputation.”
The invoice is presently sitting within the council’s Committee on Civil Service and Labor, the place its last language is being negotiated by committee members and a authorized consultant from Mamdani’s crew.
“We’ve been diligently talking to the speaker’s team, to stakeholders, and going back and forth with the [Mamdani] administration, as well,” Marte emphasised.
Mamdani has beforehand expressed sturdy assist for house care employees, attending a December 2024 rally demanding an finish to the 24-hour workday.
Marte stated he feels assured that the mayor will stand with the employees.
“I think [Mamdani] deeply cares about this issue,” the councilman stated. “At our office, we’re keeping the doors open, and we’re happy to have conversations with every stakeholder to end this crisis.”
From the protesters’ perspective, nevertheless, they’re involved that the longer negotiations proceed, the extra the invoice may doubtlessly be weakened and depart employees weak to extra wage theft.
“Our position has always been no changes to the bill,” stated Sarah Ahn, a labor organizer for the Flushing Staff Middle who attended the protests. “We partnered with lawyers, the council and Christopher Marte. This is a strong bill the way it is.”
Lots of the protesters referred to as on Mamdani to cease delaying its passage and finish negotiations so it may very well be voted on instantly.
“Mamdani — we are humans, not machines,” stated Yuyi Chen, one of many protesters. “The 24-hour workday must stop. Do what you promised and pass the bill.”
Even in freezing climate, protesters saved the vitality excessive and stood in solidarity with the house care employees impacted by the 24-hour work day.Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo
DocumentedNY reported that the Authorized Help Society, a nonprofit that gives free authorized providers, argued that the No Extra 24 Act may doubtlessly hurt sufferers who depend on 24-hour care.
Belkys Garcia, workers legal professional for the nonprofit’s Civil Regulation Reform Unit, was quoted within the report saying the Authorized Help Society helps the hassle to guard house care employees, however “meaningful reform requires alignment between city action and state authority.”
Nonetheless, protesters stated this effort to delay the invoice was shameful, and its passage shouldn’t depend on legal professionals who’ve by no means labored a 24-hour day.
Marte blamed “special interests” of huge insurance coverage corporations and residential care companies as one of many foremost explanation why it’s been such a struggle to get the invoice handed.
“They want to keep the status quo,” he stated. “The status quo is having immigrant women work 24-hour shifts and only get 13 hours of pay. The status quo is horrendous.”
Ahn stated the every day sit-in marketing campaign would proceed every day till the invoice is handed, demonstrating to the Metropolis Council and Mamdani that employees will maintain them to their phrase.
“We are continuing to call on Mamdani to keep his promise and support No More 24,” she stated. “No more delay.”
Protesters stated they’d manage a sit-in day-after-day at Metropolis Corridor till the invoice passes Metropolis Council and Mamdani indicators it.Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo 
Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo 
Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo 
Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo 
Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo 
Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo 
Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo 
Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo 
Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo 
Photograph by Renee DeLorenzo
