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December 9, 2010 
Wage Theft Law Awaits Gov.
By
Dominick Rafter
/ Queens Tribune
The Wage Theft Prevention Act, aimed at preventing employers from withholding wages, an often-overlooked problem among immigrant workers, passed the State Assembly and is waiting for Gov. David Paterson’s signature.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) and Assemblyman Carl Heastie (D-Bronx), passed the State Senate by a narrow margin in June and had been languishing in the Assembly. In recent weeks, labor and immigration activists, like Make The Road New York, pressured the Assembly to vote on the bill in last week’s special session. Last month, MRNY held a rally with victims of wage theft on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights demanding the Assembly act on the bill.
If enacted, the bill would create incentives for compliance by increasing liquidated damages from 25 percent to 100 percent; protect workers who speak out against retaliation by imposing fines against employers; and keep wage violators from hiding assets to avoid payments.
“It’s a long time coming,” said Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven). “This bill protects our workers from unscrupulous business owners.”
Miller, who said his office had fielded some calls from constituents who were victims of wage theft, said employers who abuse the law are the exception, rather than the rule.
“Most employers follow the law and treat their employees fairly,” he said. “But there are that handful of business owners who don’t, and that’s who this law goes after.”
The bill passed the Assembly 89-42, getting the votes of nearly all Democrats and some Republicans. Every Assembly member from Queens, as well as every Senator, voted in favor of the bill. Business leaders are lobbying Gov. Paterson to veto the legislation, citing the potential for increased labor costs.
More on: Workplace Justice 
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 Victory for Immigrant Families: Preventing Unjust Deportations in NYCOn March 18, 2013, Mayor Bloomberg signed new legislation to stop federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using NYC’s criminal justice system to deport thousands of New Yorkers.
Building on legislation we helped to win just over a year ago, Local Laws 21 and 22 prohibit not only the Department of Correction but now also the NYPD from spending millions of city taxpayer dollars to hold individuals on behalf of ICE agents for detention and deportation. Each year, thousands of New York families will stay together who would otherwise have been torn apart by overly aggressive, indiscriminate immigration enforcement.
At a moment when the country is debating immigration reform, with these laws, New York City sends a clear message to Washington that tearing apart thousands of immigrant families is bad policy.
With your support, we look forward to winning national reform that keeps families together. We thank our partners at the Center for Popular Democracy, the Cardozo Immigration Justice Clinic and the bills’ sponsors, NYC Council Speaker Quinn and Council Member Mark-Viverito, for their courageous leadership. 
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