October 7, 2026 · LABOR AND INDUSTRY · 1,791 words · 13 speakers · 64 segments
I call this meeting of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee to order. Please call the roll to establish a quorum.
Senators Baker? Here.
Bartolotta? Here.
Brown? Roxy. Flynn? Roxy.
Kane? Here.
Laughlin? Here.
Picozzi? Here. Pesitano? Roxy. Tartaglione? Roxy.
Kim Ward?
Roxy.
Robinson? Here.
A quorum is established. Today we will be conducting confirmation hearings for two individuals appointed to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. The Labor Relations Board provides impartial oversight of the laws that guarantee collective bargaining rights to public and some private sector employees in Pennsylvania. First nominee, Albert Mezaroba. We will first consider the reappointment of Albert Mezzaroba to serve until June 2, 2031, or until his successor is appointed. Before we begin the nomination process, I want to offer my condolences to Mr. Mezzaroba's family on the recent passing of his mother-in-law. Is there a motion to consider the nomination? Senator Kaine? and is there a second senator picose mr mazarova would you please stand to be sworn in raise your right hand do you swear and affirm that the testimony you're about to give is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth thank you mr mazarova uh he is a constituent of Senator Jared Coleman. Senator Coleman, would you please introduce your constituent to the committee?
Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. And to members of the Labor and Industry Committee, it's my pleasure to introduce my constituent, Albert Mezzaroba, of Quakertown, Bucks County, as a nominee for reappointment as a member of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. First nominated in 2014, this will be Mr. Mezzaroba's third time serving on the board. Mr. Mezzarrova has spent time in his career building consensus and forging compromises between labor and management, not only during his 12 years of service on the Labor Relations Board, but as past president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority in Philadelphia and the Lower Bucks Hospital as chief counsel to the president of the Philadelphia City Council and in his legal practice with the firm of Genova Burns. In addition to the leadership he demonstrates on the Board of Labor Relations, Mr. Mezzaroba is a member of the boards of the Philadelphia Gas Works and the Methaney Hospital in New Jersey. He holds a Bachelor's of Arts degree from Villanova University and earned his Juris Doctorate at Temple University School of Law.
I honored to introduce Albert Mazzaroba for what I hope is your favorable consideration of his nomination to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board Thank you Thank you Senator Coleman Mr Mazzarobo would you like to make any introductory remarks
I would just like to thank the committee for the accommodation and moving the hearing from yesterday for the passing of my mother-in-law.
Thank you, and it was our pleasure.
I believe your experience as an attorney for over 12 years as a board member is essential to the continued efficient operation of the board, and I for one support your nomination.
Chairman Cain, would you like to offer any remarks?
Yes, I would. And, you know, sorry about hearing about your mother-in-law.
Thank you.
I also want to congratulate you. I'm going to be asking my colleagues to vote in the affirmative for you.
Your background is impeccable, and I congratulate you. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator.
Thank you, Chairman Cain. Do any committee members have any questions for Mr. Mazarova or comments on the nomination? Seeing none, hearing none. The committee has three options when it comes to nominations. Report the nomination with a favorable recommendation, report the nomination with an unfavorable recommendation, or report the nomination with no recommendation. I will make a motion to report the nomination of Albert Mezaroba to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to the Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations with a favorable recommendation. Is there a second?
Second.
Senator McCain? Is there any discussion or question on the motion? Are there any negative votes on the motion? The nomination of Albert Mazaroba is favorably reported and will be re-referred to the Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations. Congratulations, Mr. Mazaroba.
Thank you.
Now for our second nominee, William Trusky Jr. We will now consider the appointment of William Trusky Jr. to serve until June 2, 2027, or until a successor is appointed. Is there a motion to consider the nomination?
Senator Laughlin.
Is there a second?
Senator Tartaglione.
Mr. Trusky, would you please stand to be sworn in? Please raise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
I do.
Thank you, Mr. Trusky. Mr. Trusky is a constituent of Senator Chris Gebhardt, who's with us today. Senator Gebhardt, would you please introduce your constituent to the committee?
Good morning, Chairman Robinson. Good morning, Chairman Cain. I appreciate the opportunity to be with you this morning. I am pleased to introduce Bill Trusky a constituent of mine who been nominated by Governor Shapiro to serve on the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board Bill brings more than 32 years of experience in Pennsylvania state government much of that focused directly on labor and employment policy. He has served in senior leadership roles at the Department of Labor and Industry, including Executive Deputy Secretary and Deputy Secretary for Unemployment Compensation, and previously served as legislative director at L&I under two different administrations. I have spoken with Bill personally about this appointment, and I believe his extensive experience and knowledge of Pennsylvania's labor system make him well qualified for this appointment. I'm pleased to introduce Bill and appreciate the committee's consideration of this nomination.
Thank you, Senator Gebhardt. Mr. Trusky, would you like to make any introductory remarks?
Thanks, Senator Gebhardt, for your kind remarks. Good morning, Chairman Robinson, Chairman Cain, members of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, Eric, Matt. Appreciate all that you both do as well. I appreciate the opportunity to come before you regarding an appointment to the PA Labor Relations Board. It's an honor and a privilege to be appointed to something I've followed my entire professional career. It's a board where the process should be respected and fairness is paramount. Any questions, I'd be happy to answer. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Trusky. I believe your agency and legislative experience and leadership ability in multiple roles will serve you well in this position, and I support your nomination. Chairman Cain, would you like to offer any remarks?
Thank you, Chairman. Congratulations on your appointment. I also want to say thank you for working with my staff over the years, and I'm asking my colleagues to vote in the affirmative.
Thank you, Chairman.
Thank you, Chairman Cain. Do committee members have any questions for Mr. Trusky or comments on the nomination?
Senator Laughlin. Thank you, Chairman. Okay to just call you Bill?
Absolutely.
I didn't want to say Mr. Trusky.
Not at all.
Look, I'm happy to see you here today. I'm obviously going to vote for you. And I just wanted to tell the folks listening and maybe if this makes it out into the press. um during during our time here where we've worked together uh really hand in hand during some of the really terrible uh covet unemployment times and stuff um anytime i or my staff had any real issues during that uh very difficult period of time i could pick up my cell phone and shoot you a text and you'd get right back to me and i gotta tell you that meant a lot during that period of time and gotten to know you over the years. I find you to be very level-headed, very fair, and I think you're an excellent appointment to this board. Fully support you, Bill, and happy to be here today.
Thank you, Senator.
Thank you. Thank you, Senator Laughlin.
Senator Baker. Thank you. Similarly, Bill, it hails from northeastern Pennsylvania, beautiful forest city in Susquehanna County and have had the opportunity to work with you over the years And as Senator Laughlin mentioned during COVID you were an invaluable resource to me and my team and to the countless number of applicants for benefits who were as frustrated or scared or didn't have resources, didn't know where to turn. And just want to say thank you for your work there and for always being someone that acted with integrity. And I just want you to know I appreciate that, and I'm proud to support your nomination.
Thank you, Senator.
Thank you. Thank you, Senator Baker. Senator Bartolotta, for comment?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hello again.
Hello.
Having been the chair of labor and industry all through the COVID years, which seemed like 10 instead of two, I really, really want to thank you so very, very much because you were a very, very strong and sturdy source of not just information, but support and willingness, and everyone's phones were on 24-7, and really coming to the aid of so many individuals who really didn't know where to go, especially when the folks were being proud of saying, I called that number 400 times yesterday. I'm like, you're the people we hate. Just kidding. But that just led to just an onslaught of a knot in the whole system, And, you know, you were level-headed and patient and very, very kind and understanding and came to the aid of so very many people, and I really appreciate that. So I certainly will be a yes.
Thank you, Senator.
Thanks. Thank you, Senator Bortolotta. Now to Senator Tartaglian for comments.
Morning, Bill. How are you?
Good, Senator.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
I was also the minority chair of labor and industry, and I want everybody to know that every single request that came from the Senate Democrats went through me directly to Bill, and you handled everything. I want to say thank you for everything you do, and I think you're going to be a great addition.
Thank you. Well, I appreciate the remarks, but honestly, we were just doing our job. So thank you.
Thank you. So, hearing no other questions, I will make a motion to report the nomination of William Trusky, Jr. to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to the Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations with a favorable recommendation. Is there a second? Chairman King. Is there any discussion or questions on the motion? Seeing none, hearing none, are there any negative votes on the motion? The nomination of William Trusky Jr. is favorably reported and will be re-referred to the Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations. Congratulations.
Thank you.
The Labor and Industry Committee is recessed to the call of the Chair.