NYC Mayor Appoints New Labor Policy Chief
The first Labor Day was celebrated here in New York City over a hundred years ago, and today we mark another important milestone in our city's efforts to support working families," Mayor Bill de Blasio said Aug. 24. "The strong leadership of Commissioner [Lorelei] Salas and Deputy Commissioner Vladeck will grow our ability to protect, educate, and empower workers across New York City's five boroughs."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Liz Vladeck, an experienced labor lawyer, as deputy commissioner of the new Office of Labor Policy and Standards (OLPS). "The first Labor Day was celebrated here in New York City over a hundred years ago, and today we mark another important milestone in our city's efforts to support working families," de Blasio said Aug. 24. "The strong leadership of Commissioner [Lorelei] Salas and Deputy Commissioner Vladeck will grow our ability to protect, educate, and empower workers across New York City's five boroughs."
The mayor announced the establishment of OLPS within the city's Department of Consumer Affairs earlier this year; Salas is DCA commissioner. OLPS will be the city's focal point for research, advocacy, and enforcement on labor issues in the city and give working families a dedicated voice in city government. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito first proposed the creation of OLPS during her 2014 State of the City address.
"From extending paid sick leave to over one million New Yorkers to making public transportation more affordable and to standing up for vulnerable caregivers and carwash workers, this City Council is fully committed to protecting workers' rights and to making our city a fairer and more just place for all people to work and live," Mark-Viverito said. "The Office of Labor Policy and Standards will help educate and empower New Yorkers and will ensure that the rights of all workers are protected. I look forward to working with Commissioner Salas and Deputy Commissioner Vladeck to strengthen the enforcement of our labor laws."
"With Deputy Commissioner Vladeck now at the helm of OLPS and building her team, we are plowing ahead and working towards the office's goals of advocating on behalf of working families through policy, research, and community outreach," Salas said. "With the addition of OLPS to DCA's portfolio of work, we can truly and holistically foster thriving communities by encouraging a fair and equitable marketplace for consumers."
Vladeck thanked the mayor and Salas and said she intends "to do everything I can to ensure this new office fulfills its goals to assist in the protection and empowerment of working people in New York City. The creation of this office and the decision to house it in DCA show the commitment of the mayor, the city council, and the commissioner to fighting inequality in our city. I am thrilled to become part of the team dedicated to realizing that mandate."
She earned her law degree at Columbia Law School and has a bachelor's degree from Harvard College.