What’s new in New York City employment law: Mayor Mamdani creates the first Office of Worker Power

On Labor Day, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani signed an executive order creating the Mayor’s Office of Worker Power (MOWP), the first office of its kind in the country. The office will be overseen by the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice and is charged with helping workers across the city organize, understand their rights, and influence city policy. Tony Perlstein, a longtime labor organizer who previously served as a UAW organizing director, will lead the office.

In practice, the MOWP will bring together workers, union leaders, and worker centers to identify perceived workplace concerns within the Big Apple. The office will hold public hearings on significant issues and develop policy proposals informed by workers’ experiences. The MOWP aims to coordinate with city agencies on research into various workplace issues, with a focus on emerging challenges such as new technologies, worker misclassification, immigration-based exploitation, and climate risks to worker safety. Additionally, the office will serve as a resource for workers directly, providing referrals to support organizations and connecting workers with information about their rights in accessible settings including schools, libraries, workforce centers, IDNYC offices, and community events.

Reed Smith will continue to monitor developments and report on any recommendations or enforcement initiatives that emerge from the office.