Mamdani establishes city office aimed to connect workers with resources, support

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the creation of the Mayor's Office of Worker Power, a new city office aimed at connecting workers with resources, support and organizing opportunities on Monday. The office, established through an executive order signed by the mayor, is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation. City officials said it will use the resources and convening power of City Hall to help workers become informed about their rights, connect with support networks and organize around workplace issues. The Mayor's Office of Worker Power, known as MOWP, will focus on outreach, education, research, policy development and partnerships with labor organizations. The office is intended to support workers who lack adequate wages, meaningful workplace benefits or a voice on the job. 'Every day, working New Yorkers show up, do their jobs, and keep this city running. Too often, they have no say in the conditions they work under,' Mamdani said in a statement. 'The Mayor's Office of Worker Power will make sure workers have a seat at the table before exploitation becomes a crisis and violations become routine. We're connecting workers to their rights, to each other and to the organizations ready to stand with them. Because when workers have power, this city works better for everyone.' The new office will be led by its inaugural executive director, Tony Perlstein, a former longshoreman and United Auto Workers director. MOWP will be supervised by the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su, and will work with City Hall, city agencies and worker organizations to help strengthen and support workers across New York City. According to City Hall, the office will convene gatherings of rank-and-file workers, union leaders, immigrant workers, gig workers and platform workers, while also organizing public hearings on major labor concerns. Officials said the office will provide referrals to organizations that support workers, coordinate research efforts with city agencies and develop policy proposals based on workers' experiences. The office will also focus on emerging challenges, including worker misclassification, immigration-related exploitation, workplace impacts from new technologies and climate-related safety risks. Workers will be connected with information about their rights through everyday community touchpoints, including workforce centers, libraries, schools, IDNYC offices and neighborhood events. 'This office allows us to get ahead of exploitation instead of simply responding to it,' said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. 'By building relationships with workers, unions and worker centers, we can understand what is happening on the ground and act before problems become crises. That is how we build an economy that delivers for working people.' The announcement comes as the Mamdani administration continues a broader push centered on worker protections. City Hall said a crackdown on deceptive tipping practices has delivered an estimated $104 million in additional tips to approximately 70,000 app-based delivery workers since January. Officials estimate those workers are on pace to earn about $2,287 more per year. The administration has also opened what it describes as the nation's first Deliveristas Hub near City Hall Park, providing a place for delivery workers to rest and access services. More recently, the city announced a partnership between the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office aimed at combating wage theft and other labor violations. In June, Mamdani signed an executive order intended to protect the city's 1.4 million outdoor workers from extreme heat. The administration has also voiced support for the proposed Delivery Protection Act, legislation designed to regulate the expansion of last-mile delivery centers and protect both workers and residents. City officials said the Mayor's Office of Worker Power will begin working across agencies immediately as part of the administration's effort to strengthen labor protections and increase worker participation in shaping city policies.