Spitzer Team Courts Unions

ALBANY — Governor Spitzer’s fund-raising team is reaching out to labor unions for contributions as the governor prepares to announce his proposal for a union-backed paid family leave program.Tomorrow, Mr. Spitzer is scheduled to attend a state Democratic Party fund-raiser in Manhattan with a number of labor unions, including Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International and the union representing hotel and garment industry employees, Unite Here.Mr. Spitzer this month began circulating a bill that would require employers to take out insurance plans that cover paid family leave benefits for employees taking time off to care for an ill family member or to look after their newborn children.Under Mr. Spitzer’s plan, employees would be eligible for up to $170 a week in benefits for up to 12 weeks. Employers would pay for the plan by taking out slightly larger deductions from paychecks.New York’s labor community has been one of the strongest supporters of a paid family leave program, although not one whose cost is shouldered by employees. The governor is expected to formally unveil his proposal this month.Mr. Spitzer has sought to improve his relationship with labor after his falling out with the 1199 SEIU hospital employees union during this year’s budget battle.Unions are not the only group that the governor is wooing. Mr. Spitzer has been meeting with various delegations of the Democrat-controlled Assembly for private breakfasts at the governor’s mansion.Last week, Mr. Spitzer met with the Queens delegation over scrambled eggs, sausage, and fruit. The conversation turned heated after the governor, who memorably accused the Assembly of betraying his trust during the comptroller battle, praised the lawmakers for resisting policies of Governor Pataki, according to a lawmaker present.The praise struck at least one assemblyman as ironic. The lawmaker told the governor, “Excuse me, you’ve been fueling the perception that we’ve been part of the problem,” the lawmaker said.Mr. Spitzer didn’t apologize for his prior critical comments about the Assembly, but said, “People are going to learn that you’re on the right side,” according to the lawmaker.The governor is expected to meet with the Bronx delegation this week.Mr. Spitzer is seeking to repair his relationship with the Assembly in the last weeks of legislative session, when he needs the body’s support to help pass a raft of measures dealing with issues such as construction mandates, power plant siting, and the expansion of the state’s DNA criminal database.

Spitzer Team Courts Unions

Spitzer Team Courts Unions

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