NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Liz Vladeck, the New York City Department of Education’s general counsel, to lead the city’s Office of Labor Relations, placing an experienced labor attorney in charge of negotiations with unions representing hundreds of thousands of municipal employees.
Vladeck will succeed Commissioner Renee Campion, who announced her retirement this summer after nearly 25 years with the agency. Campion is expected to remain in the position until December 1, according to a City Hall source.
The appointment comes as the Mamdani administration faces significant labor and budget challenges, including negotiations over a city-funded health benefits program that covers prescription medications, chemotherapy and other medical expenses for municipal workers.
The program, known as the Prescription Insurance Coverage Administration, or PICA, became a pressing concern after the fund supporting it was declared insolvent shortly before Mamdani took office. Resolving the funding dispute has become a major hurdle to negotiations over a new contract for District Council 37, the city’s largest public-sector union, which represents approximately 100,000 workers. The union’s current contract is due to expire next month, according to sources cited by The City Reporter.
In a statement announcing the appointment, Mamdani said city employees were essential to keeping New York running and deserved respect and support from their employer.
“I look forward to looking closely with Liz and our city’s unions to deliver real results for New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” the mayor said. He also thanked Campion for her decades of service and wished her well in retirement.
Vladeck has extensive experience in city government, although she has not previously worked at the Office of Labor Relations. Before becoming the Education Department’s top lawyer, she served as a senior labor policy adviser to former Mayor Bill de Blasio and worked on policy at the city’s consumer and worker protection agency.
Her time in the de Blasio administration coincided with efforts to move municipal retirees into a Medicare Advantage plan intended to reduce costs. The proposal faced strong opposition and ultimately did not proceed as planned.
Vladeck also brings experience representing workers in private-sector labor negotiations. With more than a decade of experience as a labor attorney, she has generally represented employees rather than management at the bargaining table.
In her own statement, Vladeck said she was honoured to continue serving New York City and its workforce. She pledged to approach the role with respect for municipal employees and work with city unions on issues affecting both public servants and residents.
She also said she hoped to advance the Mamdani administration’s broader economic justice agenda.
Her immediate priorities are likely to include addressing the PICA funding dispute and helping lay the groundwork for upcoming contract negotiations, including those involving District Council 37. The appointment places her at the centre of the administration’s efforts to balance workers’ benefits and demands with the city’s financial obligations.
