Business, labor focus on economy

Changes needed to aid upstate

Mary Chao
Staff writer

Friday,May 4, 2007

(May 4, 2007) — Rochester business and labor leaders agreed Thursday that upstate New York is facing challenges that must be addressed for the local economy to grow.

The leaders met at the Valley Manor senior community on East Avenue for a lunchtime forum that was sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Sandra Parker, president and chief executive of Rochester Business Alliance, and labor leader Jim Bertolone, president of AFL-CIO, agreed on key issues facing the region, such as retaining and attracting good jobs.

"Rochester's best chance at growth is small business," Parker told the crowd of more than 40 people.

Parker spoke about the Unshackle Upstate campaign, a coalition of business leaders, individuals and organizations calling for changes to revive the troubled economy of upstate New York.

Parker highlighted the high tax burden in the state, high insurance costs for employers and laws that affect businesses such as the Wicks Law — which requires local governments to hire multiple contractors — and the Scaffold Law — which makes owners and contractors liable for gravity-related work-site injuries.

"If upstate continues to lag, all of the state suffers," Parker said.

Bertolone talked about the Fiscal Policy Institute's One New York proposal.

"Our forum is on reviving the upstate economy," he told the audience.

Business and labor worked together on workers' compensation reform, Bertolone noted, which was signed into law by Gov. Eliot Spitzer this year — reducing the cost for employers by 10 percent to 15 percent.

He also pointed out the cost of health care in the state, which has risen by 90 percent in six years.

"We have an antiquated, post-World War II health care system," Bertolone said.

Webster resident Sally Brown, 51, said she agreed with much of what the speakers had to say about the economy.

"They agreed on a lot more than they disagreed," she said.

"The problems are so major."

Labor organizer Terry Moore, 48, of Farmington, Ontario County, attended the forum to hear both sides of labor and business issues.

"Workers need to have more of a say in revitalizing the economy," Moore said.