New York City establishes Office of Worker Power to support labor organizing

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has established the Mayor’s Office of Worker Power, described as the first municipal agency in the United States dedicated to supporting labor organizing. Announced around Labor Day, the office aims to assist private-sector employees, including gig and platform workers, by providing information on legal rights and connecting them with union organizations.

Led by Executive Director Tony Perlstein, a former United Auto Workers organizer, the agency will conduct research into workplace conditions, hold public hearings, and coordinate with other city agencies to investigate labor abuses. Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su will oversee the office’s integration across city departments. The initiative seeks to address issues such as worker misclassification, wage violations, and the impact of climate-related risks on labor.

While the administration presents the office as a tool for economic justice, some critics have questioned the historical accuracy of the Mayor’s Labor Day remarks regarding the origins of the labor movement. Additionally, specific budget details and further staffing plans for the new office have not yet been released.