Res 0762-2019

By Council Members Cabrera, Powers, Brannan, Koslowitz and Yeger Whereas, Poll workers are currently required to report to polling locations at 5AM and remain until after the polls close at 9PM, the poll site votes are tallied, all equipment is put away and the police officer assigned onsite retains possession of the tally; and Whereas, This translates into at least a sixteen hour work day for poll workers on Election Day; and Whereas, Poll worker pay is set in the New York State Election Law � 3-420(1) as a per diem minimum of $130 for election inspectors and $200 for election coordinators; and Whereas, Poll worker pay for mandatory training is set out in New York State Election Law � 3-420(2) as a minimum of $25 for each training meeting regardless of length; and Whereas, Poll worker pay in New York City was last increased by Mayor Giuliani in 2001 to $200 per day for election inspectors and $300 per day for election coordinators, respectively; and Whereas, The 2001 increase often translates to less than the New York City minimum wage, as shifts vary from sixteen to eighteen hours; and Whereas, The New York State minimum wage in 2018 is $10.40 per hour, and the New York City minimum wage is $13 per hour currently and will be $15 per hour after December 31, 2018 for employers with more than 11 employees; and Whereas, The New York City Board of Elections trained 62,949 poll workers in 2017; and Whereas, While all government employees are exempt from minimum wage laws set by the state and the city; and Whereas, Poll workers are vital to our democracy, as they ensure the fair and smooth operation of our elections; and Whereas, Poll workers should be compensated for the critical value of their service; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation that would increase poll worker pay to at least the New York State minimum wage, and for the Mayor of the City of New York to raise the poll worker pay for New York City poll workers to the City's minimum wage of $15 per hour by January 2019. EK/TJ 8.2.18 LS6200, LS6201, LS7045