FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Marc Gergely
D-Allegheny
www.pahouse.com/gergely
Gergely: Labor committee approves two bills to help
workers
HARRISBURG,
March 18 – State Rep.
Marc Gergely said the House Labor Relations Committee this week unanimously
approved two bills that would provide greater protections for Pennsylvania
workers by expanding the state's whistleblower protection law and establishing
a shared-work program as an alternative to layoffs.
"As
vice chairman of the House Labor Relation Committee, I am a strong supporter of
both bills," said Gergely, D-Allegheny. "I encourage my colleagues to
quickly bring the bills to a vote in the House so we can send them to the
Senate."
Gergely
said he is working bipartisanly with Rep. Brian Ellis
on H.B 2108 to expand the state's
whistleblower protection law for the first time since 1986 to include employees
at private businesses and non-profits that receive public funding, including
grants.
"Without
expanding the whistleblower protections, many employees in organizations that
get public funding would be hesitant to speak out about improper activities for
fear of retribution from a supervisor, and in some cases, of losing their jobs.
"This
bill will help the state to ensure that tax dollars are being used
appropriately and should encourage those employees to come forward to report
fraudulent or illegal activities in their workplace. With millions in federal
stimulus dollars coming into the state we must active quickly," Gergely
said.
The
bill would increase civil penalties from $500 to a maximum of $10,000 for
employers who take action against an employee for reporting illegal activity. A
judge ruling in favor of the employee could reinstate the person's job with
payment of back wages, full benefits, seniority rights and actual damages, as
well as paying the employee's legal costs.
Gergely
said the second bill would allow Pennsylvania workers with reduced work hours
to be eligible for unemployment compensation.
"This
gives employers an alternative to laying off workers and helps employees to
keep their jobs by working a few hours and being offering assistance that helps
their families to make up for the lost income.
"For
many hard-working Pennsylvanians, a drop in family income can make it difficult
to pay the mortgage or rent, keep food on the table or gas in the car. In this
difficult economy, these situations are increasingly common and a small
unemployment compensation check will make a big difference in many lives."
Gergely
said H.B. 2160, sponsored by Rep.
Matthew Bradford, D-Montgomery, would create a
shared-work program in the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Employees with work hours reduced by 20 percent to 40 percent at employers
approved by the department could be eligible for unemployment compensation in
proportion to the reduction.
"This
type of program is already available in 18 other states and it is time for
Pennsylvania to support workers by establishing our own," Gergely said.
"It will help employers to get through these tough economy times without
layoffs and the possible future costs of training new employees when business
improves. Plus, it helps workers to keep their jobs and should ultimately put
less of a burden on our unemployment compensation system."
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