New York Call Center Bill passes

January 9, 2020

In a big victory for CWA members, who have been writing letters, sending postcards to legislators, making phone calls, and traveling to the state capitol in Albany time and time again to get this bill passed, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the New York State Call Center Jobs Act into law on January 2. This new law is a historic advancement that will protect New York call center workers and other state taxpayers by denying state grants, loans, and tax breaks to companies that move New York call center jobs out of the country and by creating a "bad actor" list of companies that engage in this behavior.

"We applaud the Governor for taking action today to protect New York's call center workers," said Dennis Trainor, Vice President CWA District 1. "Since 2006, New York has lost more than 40,000 call center jobs. It is long past time New York stopped rewarding companies that send call center jobs overseas with taxpayer dollars."

Governor Cuomo's signing follows overwhelming and bipartisan support from the New York Assembly (130-18 vote in June 2019) and the State Senate (58-3 vote in March 2019).

"Today is a great day," said Brittni Everett, a call center worker from Albany. "The voices of New York workers drowned out those of the big corporations who have prioritized profits over people. I am so proud of our elected officials for standing up for call center workers who just want to be able to rely on their good, middle-class jobs. As a single mother, I know the importance of this legislation first hand and I know how it will personally affect me and my child."

CWA members worked hard to pass the New York call center bill, including lobbying, calling, and writing postcards to legislators, rallying, and holding press conferences to get the legislation over the finish line.