This year, there’s more support than ever. “We’ve always had strong support behind the bill, but particularly this year, we’re proud of the broad coalition of support throwing their weight behind the Fashion Workers Act,” she says.
Fashion workers and advocates have been rallying for the bill in the lead up to the vote. Earlier this month, on the Sunday before the Met Gala, the Model Alliance gathered on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art alongside representatives from SAG-AFTRA, the Writers Guild of America East, the Condé Union, National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Freelancers Union. “We’re seeing more momentum and support,” Ziff says.
Last month, the Model Alliance expanded its board of directors with four new female members. Two have labour policy expertise: former New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, who passed legislation to strengthen protections for survivors and hold employers accountable for addressing sexual misconduct (she also introduced the Fashion Act) and Caitlin Rooney, senior labour policy advisor to US Senator Bernie Sanders. Two are current working models: activists Ambra Battilana Gutierrez and Nidhi Sunil.
“We pride ourselves on being worker-led,” Ziff says. “We’re really excited to have new leadership and fresh ideas. So we’re going into the end of the session feeling pretty good about our chances of passing the Fashion Workers Act.”
It’s more timely than ever, following the rise and decline of the #MeToo movement, which brought issues of harassment and discrimination in the entertainment industries to light. Ziff also flags the increasing prevalence – and emerging issue – of AI as engendering an additional sense of urgency.
“What we’re asking for is so basic,” Ziff says. “Fashion workers are workers like anyone else and there’s no excuse to keep carving them out of the same rights and protections afforded to other industries.”
Ahead of tomorrow’s vote, she says: “We are calling on the assembly to vote on the bill and Governor [Kathy] Hochul to sign it into law. The legislative session ends 6 June – so time is of the essence.”
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