Workers' Rights Task Force 

Agenda

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September 20, 2021

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3:30 pm     Welcome and Setting the Stage

 

3:35 pm     Policies in Motion: What do they mean for workers?

 

Paul Sonn, State Policy Program Director with the National Employment Law Project, will frame worker issues from safety to wages, including top Biden Administration policy initiatives, what states are doing, and what governors can do. 

 

Matt Jackson, Community Outreach Resource & Planning Specialist with the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor, will share about what’s changing in he DOL, enforcement activities, and agency priorities.

 

Morgan Eaves, Director of Legislative Affairs with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, will give updates on the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance, Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health, and Kentucky Division of Wages and Hours.

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4:35 pm COVID Recovery: What’s ending in Unemployment?

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Dustin Pugel of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy will update us on what is ending in Unemployment benefits, and the impact it is having and will have on people and the economy. 

 

4:40 pm Litigation and Other Updates

5:00 pm Adjourn (or Stick Around for Side Conversation)

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Previous Agenda

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December 2, 2020

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2:00 pm     Welcome and Setting the Stage

 

2:05 am     Unemployment Insurance Status Report

 

George Wentworth from the National Employment Law Project, has been tracking UI system performance and litigation throughout the country. George will share updates on litigation and legal strategies being used to resolve delays and ensure people get benefits in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and other states. 

 

Ben Carter of Kentucky Equal Justice Center will share recent developments in Kentucky UI, overpayment enforcement, and pending litigation. Rich Seckel of Kentucky Equal Justice Center will share the letter advocates sent to Governor Beshear and Secretary of the Labor Cabinet Larry Roberts - and the response.

 

2:20 pm     COVID Impact Update

 

Dustin Pugel of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy will deliver an update on federal COVID relief. 

 

We will hear updates on how grocery and meat packing workers are reckoning with COVID safety in the workplace.

 

2:35 pm     Workers’ Rights General Assembly Preview & Discussion

 

We invite everyone to participate in this discussion of legislative issues as the 2021 General Assembly looms. We’ll discuss our policy goals and potential defensive tasks in all areas that affect working Kentuckians. Some topics to anticipate:

 

• Paid Parental Leave

• Good Cause / Agency Error Waiver Legislation

• Unemployment Insurance Reform

• Misclassification Task Force

 

3:20 pm     Announcements

 

We welcome everyone to share announcements and changes that your organization has made during the pandemic. 

3:30 pm     Adjourn (or Stick Around for Side Conversation)

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Past Meetings

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May 21, 2020

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10:30 am     Welcome and Setting the Stage

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10:35 am     Together Lawyers Can

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Ben Carter of Kentucky Equal Justice Center will introduce Together Lawyers Can, a recruitment effort for volunteer attorneys for the expected increase in Unemployment Insurance hearings due to the pandemic.

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10:40 am     Unemployment Insurance

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Dustin Pugel of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy will describe key CARES Act and other new provisions on UI. Using KCEP’s interactive “Economic Fallout” tracking webpage, Dustin will give an update on UI claims in Kentucky and symptoms of problem areas in Kentucky claims processing. Cindy Millay of Legal Aid of the Bluegrass will discuss potential issues with claim denials.

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11:00 am     Immigrant Worker Issues During COVID-19

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Gretchen Hunt of the Backside Learning Center will share issues that have come up with BLC clients who are immigrant workers and will kick off group discussion of these issues, including worker safety, immigrant eligibility for benefits like Unemployment Insurance, and others.

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11:20 am     Grocery and Meatpacking Workers

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Caitlin Blair of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 227 will speak on issues facing grocery and meatpacking workers.

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11:30 am     Worker Safety During COVID-19

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Debbie Berkowitz of the National Employment Law Project will describe how OSHA is failing to set and enforce federal standards, kinds of protections needed in workplaces, and hot spots for industry and why. She will highlight how Kentucky OSH could enforce Governor Beshear’s Executive Order defining Life-Sustaining Businesses that can remain open and social distancing and hygiene requirements.

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11:50 am     Topics for our Next Meeting

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11:55 am     Announcements

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We welcome everyone to share announcements and changes that your organization has made during the pandemic. 

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12:00 pm     Adjourn (or Stick Around for Side Conversation)

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December 16, 2019

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10:00  Welcome and Introductions

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We welcome all of you to the meeting and encourage you to network with representatives from allied organizations. 

 

10:15  Legislative Issues Roundtable Discussion

 

We invite everyone to participate in this discussion of legislative issues as the 2020 General Assembly looms. We’ll discuss our policy goals and potential defensive tasks in all areas that affect working Kentuckians. 

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11:00  Messaging Workshop

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KEJC Communications Coordinator, Allison Crawford, will lead a discussion on the workers’ rights messaging themes that KEJC and partners have developed. We’ll test them on you, the experts, before we test them online with the general public. Some messages are already going out--we will solicit your feedback and analysis on recent messaging and its responses.

 

11:45  Health Benefits for Low Income Workers: Update

 

From oral arguments in Stewart v. Azar to the election of a new Governor and legislative task force recommendations, a lot has happened with the future of healthcare and public benefits! We’ll receive brief updates from KEJC staff and others participating in the efforts to maintain important safety net programs. 

 

12:00  Lunch

 

Lunch is on us! Use this time to catch up with colleagues from around the state as we gear up for more discussion. 
 

12:30  Workplace Safety Updates

 

Over a year ago, journalists exposed Kentucky’s recent poor track record of worker injury and fatality investigations. Our task force previously brought in national experts and brainstormed responses. A new federal audit suggests the state is doing better. Has the situation really improved, and what’s on the horizon with a new administration?

 

• David Stumbo from Eastern Kentucky University will lead our discussion. 

• Debbie Berkowitz from National Employment Law Project will offer her assessment.

 

1:00  Greetings from Southern Migrant Legal Services

 

We’ll hear from Southern Migrant Legal Services about their services and efforts in Kentucky on worker safety, education and outreach and litigation. 

 

1:10  Employment Law Case Updates

 

All attendees are encouraged to update the group on interesting employment law cases that we should be following. We are especially looking forward to hearing from:

 

• Ned Pillersdorf and Janet Stumbo from Eastern Kentucky. They, among others, have assisted the Blackjewel miners whose pay was withheld when the company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. Many of us have followed this case in the news, so this perspective directly from attorney advocates should be particularly interesting. 

 

1:40  Announcements and Agency Updates

 

Holiday party? Lobby day during 2020 General Assembly? Upcoming conference or meeting? New initiative? Announce it here!

          

2:00  Adjourn

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May 30, 2019  

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11:00  Welcome and Introductions

 

11:15  Strategic, United Messaging for Workers’ Rights

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Allison Dean Crawford, KEJC Communications Coordinator, will describe a new mini-grant to develop and test messages around worker’s rights and working families.  She’ll also discuss storytelling as a messaging tool.

 

Anastasia Christman, Worker Power Program Director, Michele Evermore, Senior Policy Analyst, and Debbie Berkowitz, Worker Health and Safety Program Director, of the National Employment Law Project, will help us understand the big picture of which messaging angles are proven to work the best in the field of workers’ rights.

 

With input and ideas for collaboration from attendees. Background:

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NELP HART poll on subcontracting

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12:00  Lunch

 

12:30  Now is the Time to Submit YOUR Federal Comments

 

McKenzie Cantrell, KEJC Employment Law Attorney, will present updates and opportunities on recent federal rule proposals:

   

• Joint Employer Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act

• FLSA Regular Rate

• Trump Administration Overtime Threshold for Salaried Workers

 

1:00    Kentucky Equal Justice Roadshow

 

Updates on Defending Medicaid and SNAP for Working People

 

• Ben Carter, Senior Litigation and Advocacy Counsel

• Betsy Davis, Health Law Fellow

 

KY Equal Justice Radio

 

• Beka Bruner, VISTA Outreach Specialist and radio co-host

 

1:15  Steps Forward on Worker Safety?

 

Updates and next steps on the KY Office of Safety and Health, worker’s compensation, and black lung benefits

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• Rich Seckel, Director, KEJC

• Debbie Berkowitz, Worker Health and Safety Program Director, National Employment Law Project

 

1:30  Around the Room:  2019 General Assembly and Other Updates

 

We will use this session as a round robin to discuss updates and lessons learned from the 2019 General Assembly. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion.

 

Pregnant Workers Rights Act

• Elizabeth Gedmark, A Better Balance (invited)

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Arbitration, SB 7

• Ben Carter, KEJC

 

Unemployment Insurance Litigation: Changes to UI Hearings

• Robyn Smith, Abney Law Office

 

2:15  Announcements

         

2:30  Adjourn

 

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January 31, 2019

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10:00 Welcome and Introductions

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• Overview of General Assembly

• Workers' Rights Bills of Concern and Interest

• Community Partner Perspective

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Find our Bill Tracking Chart here!

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December 17, 2018

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11:00 Welcome and Introductions

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11:15 Threats to Workers Safety and How to Push Back

• Protecting Worker Safety: Debbie Berkowitz, National Employment Law Project, will present on the nation-wide threats to workers’ compensation and where Kentucky fits in this national context.

• Responding to Black Lung Benefit Cuts in Kentucky: Representative Angie Hatton, sponsor of BR 163, and Evan Smith, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center

• Professional Perspectives on the Investigative Reporting into KY Office of Safety and Health: Larry Roberts, former Secretary of the Labor Cabinet

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12:15 Lunch

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12:30 Kentucky Supreme Court Review

• McKenzie Cantrell, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, will lead updates and discussion on recent decisions on Right to Workand Arbitration.

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12:45 Heads Up: Issues for 2019

• Unemployment Insurance: Michele Evermore, National Employment Law Project, and Rich Seckel, Kentucky Equal Justice Center

• State of Working Kentucky 2018 Report: Dustin Pugel, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

• Attack on Working People Through Public Benefits Programs: Jason Dunn, Kentucky Voices for Health

• Pregnant Workers' Rights Act: Elizabeth Gedmark, A Better Balance

 

1:45 Around the Room: The 2019 General Assembly

• We will use this session as a round robin to discuss what may be ahead during the 2019 General Assembly. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion.

 

2:15 Announcements

• 2019 Task Force Meeting Dates

 

2:30 Adjourn

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