Greater than 50 residence care employees and supporters rallied outdoors Metropolis Council Speaker Julie Menin’s residence on Friday morning, saying it’s time for the Metropolis Council to go laws ending 24-hour workdays for his or her career in New York Metropolis.
Members of the Ain’t I a Girl?! Marketing campaign coalition of a half dozen teams gathered behind a barrier to name for the passage of the lengthy languishing No Extra 24 Act (Intro 303), launched in 2022 by Councilmember (District 1 – Decrease Manhattan) Christopher Marte.
They made speeches in English and Chinese language, chanted “No More 24” and held indicators similar to “Stop breaking families apart” close to a crimson banner saying “Abolish the 24-hour workday.”
They mentioned they plan to renew a starvation strike on July 28 at Metropolis Corridor, which they paused in April amid a perception the invoice would obtain a vote.
The laws, after 4 years and three variations, stays within the Committee on Civil Service and Labor.
“I want them to end 24-hour shifts and split them into two 12-hour shifts during the night and day,” mentioned Brooklyn resident Xiulan Zhu, who spent 17 years as a house care employee, together with 12 with 24-hour shifts. “That’s better for patients and home care workers.”
Xiulan ZhuPhoto by Claude Solnik
Zhu mentioned she has labored for companies that assign 24-hour shifts which she believes she should settle for. “If I didn’t take 24-hour shifts, they wouldn’t give me work,” mentioned Zhu, who shouldn’t be a union member. “If I don’t work, I can’t pay my bills.”
Employees for Menin, who earlier instructed employees she is dedicated to shifting laws ahead, just lately instructed amNY she stays dedicated to ending the 24-hour workday.
Marte’s Director of Public Affairs, Simon Kostelanetz, mentioned they’re working with Menin to craft measures to reply to union issues.
“For days on end, he wouldn’t see his mom,” Kostelanetz mentioned of Marte’s mom, a house well being aide. “When she did come home, she would basically only sleep. It’s a personal issue to him in that regard.”
Residence care employees in New York State are paid for 13 hours of 24-hour shifts and required to obtain no less than 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep and three for meals.
“In reality, these patients require 24-hour care. They require to be turned over at night, so they don’t get bed sores. They require to be taken to the bathroom at night,” Kostelanetz added. “They should be paid for those hours that they’re working.”
Greater than 50 residence care employees and supporters rallied outdoors Metropolis Council Speaker Julie Menin’s residence to name for her to finish 24-hour workdays for residence care employees.Picture by Claude Solnik
Whereas sleep and time for meals is meant to be assured, residence care employees and advocates mentioned that’s honored extra within the breach.
“A lot of people don’t have their own rooms to sleep. Some of them have to sleep next to the patient,” mentioned Zishun Ning, one of many organizers. “Others sleep on couches. In some cases, they have to sleep next to the front door, because they’re concerned.”
Zhu mentioned she usually sleeps in a chair or sofa close to sufferers, by no means getting 5 hours sleep, shifting sufferers each few hours.
“My body is still suffering from the years of 24-hour shifts,” mentioned Zhu, who mentioned she developed insomnia and believes lengthy shifts damage household relations. “My shoulders and hands are in chronic pain.”
There have been 112,376 New York Metropolis residence care employees in 2021, in response to New York Metropolis Comptroller knowledge. About 89% of care employees in New York Metropolis are girls, usually girls of coloration.
Supporters of ending the 24-hour workdays with 13 hours pay argue that ladies of coloration want help in a system that they imagine exploits them.
Greater than 50 residence care employees and supporters rallied outdoors Metropolis Council Speaker Julie Menin’s residence to name for her to finish 24-hour workdays for residence care employees.Picture by Claude Solnik
At the very least 13,000 New York Metropolis residents obtained 24-hour care as of 2022, in response to the Authorized Assist Society.
“It’s important to note out of all the home care workers in the city, only about 8-10 percent work 24-hour shifts,” Kostelanetz mentioned.
1199SEIU, which represents tens of hundreds of residence care employees, helps ending the 24-hour system in favor of break up shifts that pay for all hours of care.
They help the spirit of the invoice, however haven’t but endorsed it, since additionally they see it as a state challenge and imagine Medicaid funding should be addressed.
Some critics of the invoice say it will improve prices and will complicate look after the disabled.
DC 37, which represents about 5,000 residence care employees, in a Could 14 submit on X mentioned it “could jeopardize their hard-won collective bargaining rights, health benefits and pensions.”
“Intro. 303 puts home care workers and the nearly 13,000 disabled New Yorkers who rely on them at risk,” in response to that union.
“A lot of my members work 24-hour shifts and are worried about what losing those shifts will mean for their families and the clients they support,” Margaret Glover, president of Residence Care Workers DC 37 Native 389 and a house care employee for 46 years, mentioned in a written assertion.
A banner studying “Abolish the 24-hr workday” was on show.Picture by Claude Solnik
DC 37 argues Medicaid approves around-the-clock protection with nights seen as much less onerous second shifts. Two 12-hour shifts can be costlier.
“About half a dozen home care agencies, under pressure, switched away from 24-hour shifts,” Kostelanetz mentioned. “They haven’t reported any difficulty with staffing or financial problems.”
The invoice has been modified, taking impact later, on April 1, 2027, and letting employees till October 1, 2027 choose into longer shifts.
The Division of Client and Employee Safety (DCWP) would examine complaints of violations that carry $2,500 penalties.
Employers can be required to tell residence care staff of their rights and require DCWP to review the house care business by April 1, 2028.
The 12-hour shift rule wouldn’t apply to employees coated by collective bargaining agreements in place as of February 18, 2026.
Picture by Claude Solnik
The prohibition would take impact solely after that contract ends, or if changed or renewed by December 31, 2027, after the renewed or changed contract. “We tried to allay some of those concerns,” Kostelanetz mentioned.
Marte has 14 co-sponsors which Kostelanetz known as a “good amount, “although the 51-member City Council requires 26 votes to pass. “They don’t necessarily sign onto legislation as co-sponsors, but they still vote for it,” he added.
Whereas the invoice has been modified, language might proceed to alter as supporters search to shore up union and Council help.
Within the meantime, Zhu, who mentioned she already did a starvation strike, plans to participate in one other until issues change.
“I’m not afraid,” mentioned Zhu, who did a weeklong starvation strike with solely water and plans to do it once more. “I’m determined.”
Picture by Claude Solnik
