Key facts
- Mayor Mamdani has launched the Mayor's Office of Worker Power.
- The office's goal is to empower private-sector workers by connecting them to resources and rights.
- Tony Perlstein, formerly with the UAW, will head the new office.
- The office will gather worker feedback through hearings and provide referrals to organizing groups.
- The office will not engage in direct workplace organizing, according to Deputy Mayor Julie Su.
Mayor Mamdani has established the Mayor's Office of Worker Power, an initiative aimed at bolstering private-sector workers' ability to organize and advocate for their rights. Mamdani stated that the office will ensure workers have a voice before exploitation becomes widespread.
The office will be led by Tony Perlstein, who has a background as a longshoreman and served as an organizing director for the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). Perlstein highlighted the potential for City Hall's resources to benefit workers, particularly in a city with many large corporations.