ALIGN

Newsletter for the Movement for Economic, Climate, and Racial Justice

The diversity and breadth of today’s labor movement was on full display on International Workers’ Day. In commemoration of worker struggles, the ALIGN team and the Raise Up NY coalition marched with over 500 workers from over half a dozen coalitions for the rights of all workers. Union members, non-union workers, sex workers, immigrant workers, workers in re-entry, and minimum wage workers flooded the streets of New York City to celebrate the movement that gave us the 8-hour work day, the weekend, paid sick leave, and more. 

But today, an increasing number of workers are slipping into precarity in the highest cost of living crisis in forty years. In the past few months, worker-led coalitions have been fighting for more secure jobs, stronger unemployment, higher wages, and full decriminalization of sex work. With a recent upsurge in worker fights across all sectors, we are witnessing a turning point in worker struggle happening now and every day. Workers are fed up but are holding onto strength, discipline, and hope. We’re standing with them to build coalitions and take back what is rightfully ours.

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We’re hiring!

ALIGN is looking for talented and dedicated candidates for:

Executive Director to take the organization to the next level of economic and environmental justice advocacy.

Climate Director to oversee climate justice work, renewable energy initiatives, and policy campaigns.

We also have an open position for a Climate & Labor Organizer.

Join a virtual lobby visit on Zoom with your representative to make your voice heard for the Climate, Jobs, and Justice Package!

Together, we can win a stronger, more resilient New York in 2023. Please consider donating to ALIGN so we can continue building coalitions fighting for economic, climate, and racial justice.

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Historic Wins in an Imperfect Budget

Over a month late, Governor Hochul finally signed the state budget. The outcome was less than ideal, but our movements were able to secure important wins toward building a more just and equitable New York for all. 

The New York climate and environmental justice movement not only defended our landmark Climate Act from a major attack by the fossil fuel industry but won several victories in the budget. Through the Climate and Community Protection Fund, we won targeted financial support for New Yorkers struggling with utility bills, money for improving state infrastructure and public transit, game-changing labor standards, and clean energy job training and support for impacted workers. In addition, the passage of the Build Public Renewables Act will become a national model for building publicly-owned renewable energy that is tied to strong labor standards. These are monumental wins for workers and our planet. 

NY Renews coalition rallying in Albany for the Climate, Jobs Justice Package.

Credit: Ken Schles

Unfortunately, Governor Hochul turned her back on the 80% of New Yorkers who wanted a $21.25 minimum wage. Instead, the Governor will raise New York’s minimum wage to a paltry $17 downstate and $16 upstate by 2026 before indexing to inflation. Grocery bills, utility costs, and rising rents make it clear that a $17 minimum wage will not give working families the living wage needed to afford basic necessities. The war against poverty is certainly not over. Soon, labor unions, community groups, and small businesses will be back on the steps of our Capitol to push for a dignified living wage. We can’t wait.

The Fight to End Warehouse Injuries

With the budget behind us, we have just one month left in New York’s legislative session to secure big wins for worker justice. 

On May 4, ALIGN and the New Yorkers for a Fair Economy coalition launched a new warehouse safety campaign targeting Amazon’s injury crisis and accountability in the growing warehouse industry. Last year, our coalition notched a major victory by winning the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, which addressed exploitative productivity quotas at corporate giants like Amazon. But we know that’s just part of the problem. Amazon is designing facilities to get products out fast, not to protect workers, and they’re racking up federal safety violations as workers continue to get hurt. In New York, 1 in 12 Amazon warehouse workers are injured on the job. And 95% of the time, the injuries were serious enough that they had to take time off to recover or switch job duties entirely.

Interim Executive Director Lucas Shapiro speaking at the Warehouse Worker Injury Protection Act Campaign launch outside Jeff Bezos’ NYC apartment

We know these injuries are preventable. That’s why we’re fighting to pass the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act, which will hold employers accountable for workplace safety and design warehouses to protect workers first. We held a press conference with our partners at the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, Teamsters, Amazon Labor Union, and National Employment Law Project to call for better job design, safety standards, improved on-site medical care, and strong enforcement. With this legislation, we can keep workers safe on the job and make warehouse work sustainable in our state.

ALIGN in the News

AM NY –  Legislative fight for warehouse worker protections comes to Jeff Bezos’ Flatiron District penthouse

City and State NY – Report: Amazon warehouse injuries surpass other facilities in NY

The Chief Leader – Lawmakers want to add protections for Amazon warehouse workers

Gothamist – NY’s minimum wage could increase to $17. Progressives want it higher.

NY Daily News – Here’s what the the new state budget means for New York City

City Limits – NY Budget Lays Groundwork for Cap-and-Invest Plan to Charge Polluters, But Details Are Lacking

Grist – After a four-year campaign, New York says yes to publicly owned renewables

Alliance in Action

Updates from ALIGN’s Board of Directors

NYC-EJA, ElectrifyNY coalition members, labor allies, and elected officials held a virtual press conference reintroducing the Green Transit, Green Jobs bill (S.6089/A.6414). Transportation is one of the largest contributors to emissions in New York State, and to meet the State’s climate targets, an emissions-free public transportation network is needed.

New York Communities for Change joined climate protesters to stage demonstrations directly across from the Met Gala in NYC on Monday, to draw attention to the looming climate crisis and the need to tax the rich via the Invest in Our New York Act. 

Community Voices Heard  members rallied with local leaders and tenants facing eviction outside Poughkeepsie City Hall to tell Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature to pass Good Cause eviction protections. One of those tenants, Joan Killmer, 87, never missed a rent payment for her home in Poughkeepsie in 47 years, and now she’s facing eviction.