Chair Epstein asks DCWP about balancing worker protections and safety

Can I go to DCWP just around that policy balance around worker protections and safety?

Kind of what policies is DCWP working on now to ensure we have those protections for public safety and worker protections at the same time?

Well, thank you, Chair.

Fundamentally, our administration and certainly our department feels that these goals, worker safety and worker well-being, are not in conflict.

In fact, they're complementary.

The points I made at the beginning is that the deactivation protections, for example, are an absolutely critical ingredient to a comprehensive safety strategy.

At the end of the day, if workers feel that they can be deactivated arbitrarily without cause for, say, not hitting those delivery times, we're never going to have safety on the streets because we're forcing people to choose between their livelihoods and their safety.

We are also strong supporters, as you know, of the council's minimum pay rate, which we've been implementing and enforcing aggressively.

That's part of having a more professional delivery workforce.

You know, I think the apps wanted to have a model where they'd bring in tens of thousands of people to, you know, occasionally do deliveries, maybe not trained on what's safe, maybe not trained on the legal devices.

Our focus is on making sure you can actually earn a living as a delivery worker.

You can afford a safe device, know how to operate a safe device, and know that you're not going to be fired for putting safety first.

Just on the current deactivation protections and due process protections, do you think there are enough protections already within the law for workers to prevent deactivation without due process?

Well, I think when local law 34 takes effect in January, there will be.

Do you think there's additional protections that need to be put in place to protect those workers?

I think that's a very good question, Council Member.

I think we should have follow-up discussions around it.

I want to see how I want to make sure that the app companies are complying with 34.

I've made clear to them I expect compliance on day one.

But we should have additional discussions about whether that regime protects drugs.

from unjust detention.

And just, sorry, I would like to reiterate the commissioner's point as well about how all these systems or policies from our respective agencies are really working together.

Obviously, the work that PD is going to be doing on on-treat enforcement is critical.

What we do to ensure that vehicles are affordable for New Yorkers and they have, they're able to keep their jobs and not be fired arbitrarily, that's critical.

What DOT does on the traffic safety side of the enforcement question of holding, we're hoping to hold these companies accountable.

This all works in tandem, and I think that coordination is what we're trying to bring to this legislative package today as well.