SEN. KUSHNER CELEBRATES CEREMONIAL SIGNING OF NEW WAREHOUSE WORKERS’ RIGHTS BILL

HARTFORD – Surrounded by labor union members and advocates working people, state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today celebrated the ceremonial signing of Senate Bill 298, an emergency-certified bill passed in special session in late February that includes new workplace protections for workers in large warehouse distribution centers.
 
The bill, originally signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont on March 3, includes a basic set of rules regarding warehouse production quotas with the goal of decreasing the likelihood of on-the-job injuries and enabling workers to maintain scheduled meal and bathroom breaks.
 
Connecticut is the first state in New England to pass these types of warehouse worker protections and the sixth nationwide; similar legislation has already been approved in California, New York, Washington, Minnesota, and Oregon.
 
“I want to give a big, big thank you to all of the labor union members who are here today and who were here for every moment as we shepherded this bill through the Labor Committee,”  Sen. Kushner said at this morning’s bill signing in the State Capitol. “The public testimony in favor of this bill was eye-opening. We heard from workers that these big warehouses have an injury rate that is so high and getting worse, and that the turnover rate in some warehouses is 150% a year. I think everybody knows someone who works or who has worked a warehouse job, so I applaud my colleagues who voted for this bill and the labor union members who pushed for it in order to ensure that every worker who works in a warehouse or in any other environment has a good job, good benefits, and is safe.”
 
The new law generally applies to employers that employ at least 250 employees at a single warehouse distribution center in the state or 1,000 employees at multiple warehouse distribution centers in the state. Sections 50-57 of Senate Bill 298:

• Limits the extent to which employers at certain warehouse distribution centers can require their employees to meet production quotas;
• Sets quota-related notice requirements, prohibitions, and record-keeping requirements;
• Allows aggrieved employees to bring a civil action in Superior Court;

Prohibits employers from firing or retaliating against an employee for requesting their quotas and work speed data or for filing a civil action.
 
The new law takes effect on July 1.
 
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