New York State AFL-CIO Supports Striking Boathouse Workers

Calls on New York City Parks Department to Force Dean Poll to Respect Workers' Rights

ALBANY, NY (08/09/2011)(readMedia)-- New York State AFL-CIO Supports Striking Boathouse Workers – Calls on New York City Parks Department to Force Dean Poll to Respect Workers' Rights

Following today's walk out of dozens of workers at the Central Park Boathouse Restaurant, Denis Hughes, President of the 2 ½ million member New York State AFL-CIO, issued the following statement:

"If we are to consider ourselves a progressive, enlightened society, we can never allow the dignity and respect of working men and women to be abused or undermined. In particular, the workers at Central Park Boathouse Restaurant have a legally protected right to join a union. That right must be protected without fail.

"As such, and on behalf of the 2 ½ million members of the New York State AFL-CIO, I call upon the New York City Parks Department to use their contractual authority to force Dean Poll to follow the law and respect the rights of their employees."