New York law states that New Yorkers who lose their jobs can receive benefits for unemployment insurance of up to 26 weeks, which for those who lose their jobs serves at least as a “temporary lifeline.” But these funds do not include undocumented state workers, estimated at more than half a million, and independent workers, who, upon losing their jobs, are left “cast to God’s lot”as he claims Leonicio González, who has suffered “the hard times” when he has been fired from work.
And in his desire that those called excluded workerswho in the midst of the pandemic managed to get some 130,000 of them will receive checks for $15,600equivalent to what they would have received if they could apply for unemployment insurance, this Tuesday, with a demonstration outside the Mayor’s Office, political leaders, community organizations and undocumented employees, launched a campaign with which they seek to have can reform New York’s unemployment system, with the approval in the state Legislature of the “Unemployment Bridge Program”which requests an investment of $500 million. The goal is for all New York workers, regardless of their immigration status or whether or not they work for employers, to receive financial support when they lose their job.
The bill, led by Latino politicians, such as state senator Jessica Ramosalso warns that access to the safety net be expanded for undocumented workers, self-employed workers and workers recently released from jail and immigration detention centers, because when they are left without their jobs, without being protected, everything becomes uphill. for them.
This is what undocumented workers like Manuel Coto, originally from Veracruzwho has had to juggle to survive in the Big Apple every time he is unemployed.
“We pay taxes Like any other worker, we contribute to this city and are the first to be ready when the need is greatest, but when we lose our jobs, we are literally left with nothing, and that’s not fair, so passing unemployment insurance is the least “What can the Government do to show us that we are all equal here,” said the young Mexican, who in his country worked as an engineer and administrator. “I worked in a 99-cent store and when they fired me, they sent me home with nothing, without any stability and without being able to cover basic things like paying rent and eating. “Unemployment insurance would help us all”.
Excluded Workers demand that unemployment insurance be approved for all in 2024. Photo: Edwin Martínez
Guera de la Cruz, who has been in the Big Apple for 27 years, took advantage of the demonstration to demand that the leaders of the state Assembly and Senate, as well as the governor, Kathy Hochul, take the side of the excluded workers and give the green light to the “Program Unemployment Bridge”.
“We are not ghosts. We, like any other worker, need to pay our bills, we need to pay rent, we need to pay for food, we need to support our families here and our families in our countries, and if we are left without a single dollar when we lose our jobs , not only do they leave us almost on the street, without options, but they also increase the possibility that people can be public charges, and we do not want that. “We want equal treatment,” said the Mexican.
Under the proposed reform of the unemployment insurance system, with $500 million in the state budget For the insurance program, it seeks to provide workers who do not qualify for current benefits, a monthly payment of $1,200 if they lose their job, approximately equal to the average rate offered to other workers. It is estimated that the law would benefit some 750,000 workers throughout New York State, including 180,000 self-employed workers and independent.
“This is possibly the most important project for 2024, which we will begin to move from January when we return to Albany, because with it we can correct the serious mistake that there is in the unemployment insurance system that leaves thousands of workers out,” said state senator Jessica Ramos, also promoter of the call Excluded Workers Fund, which during the pandemic granted economic relief to undocumented workers who lost their jobs. “With this project we seek that regardless of whether someone works for Uber, for Doordash, if they are a day laborer, if they are a street worker, if they clean houses, if they have paid their debts to society, if they come from Ohio or Bangladesh, those who do not qualify currently for traditional unemployment insurance, they can receive unemployment relief, because everyone works to live, they have to pay rent, put food on the table, pay for the children’s supplies and they deserve to get back something of what they give. .
Assemblywoman Marcela Mitayneswho also supports unemployment insurance for all, added that the goal is for the benefits to cover both immigrants who have been in the state for a long time and new arrivals, and although he acknowledged that the initiative has many opponents, and that there are even those who They see it as impossible, they will not rest until it is a reality.
“For generations, new immigrants have contributed to New York’s culture and economy, and with this project we have the opportunity to guarantee that everyone in our state, including newcomers, can be treated with the same dignity and can cover their basic needs when they lose their jobs,” said the politician of Peruvian origin. “We know that there are people in positions of power who are deciding that this is not important, and that is why we have to go out together to demonstrate until we achieve victory, as happened a few years ago with the Excluded Workers Fund, which we achieved even though they told us many times it was impossible.”
Excluded Workers demand that unemployment insurance promoted by Senator Jessica Ramos be approved for everyone in 2024. Photo: Edwin Martínez
The Ombudsman, Jumaane Williamsalso showed his support for the bill, and after greeting the protesters in Spanish and thanking the work that immigrants do to move the Big Apple forward, he pointed out that no worker should be excluded from unemployment benefits.
“Tens of thousands of workers died in the pandemic and those deaths should not remain in vain, so we cannot continue in the same way as before. We have to keep fighting until all workers have the respect and care they deserve,” Williams said.
The call to approve the unemployment insurance law for all, for which the Governor and state leaders have not shown their support, comes at a time when other states in the country are already reforming their programs, which New York has not changed since 1935, when it was established.
At the moment Colorado has a permanent fund to provide unemployment support to undocumented workers.
Nisha Tabassumcoordinator of the Coalition of Excluded Workers, warned that many independent workers have not managed to stay on their feet, and called for the law to be approved as soon as possible.
“Today, there are hundreds of thousands of workers across New York who have nowhere to turn if they lose their jobs: writers, farmworkers, street vendors, construction workers and many more. “Workers who don’t have a safety net to fall back on are less likely to face abusive employers, making it easier for the state’s worst employers to keep standards low for all of us,” the leader said. “The Unemployment Bridge Program would help update our safety net with today’s economy and, in the process, make working conditions safer and better for everyone.”
Matilde Campoverde, organization member Make the Road New Yorkwho has worked in factories, taking care of children, cleaning houses and other jobs, and who is currently unemployed, assured that the unemployment insurance law would be a relief for many who like her have had to suffer the onslaught of not having income.
“I haven’t been able to find a job. I paid my taxes and contributed to the economy of this state, and now that I am struggling, there is no safety net that can help me during this difficult time. Like me, there are thousands of workers across the state who are excluded from a safety net because of the work we do or our immigration status,” said the immigrant. “I ask the Governor and the state Legislature to stop excluding workers like me. They must approve the Unemployment Bridge Program. “We deserve to work in peace knowing that if we lose our jobs, we will have insurance that will support us to put food on the table.”
Michael Prohaskabusiness manager for Laborers Local 79, said countless workers came to help during the COVID-19 pandemicproviding services that saved lives, but still do not have the unemployment insurance or financial support they need, which is unfair.
Excluded Workers demand that unemployment insurance be approved for all in 2024. Photo: Edwin Martínez
“When Albany resumes in January, they will have the opportunity to ensure that all New Yorkers, especially those who do not qualify for traditional benefits, have the job and economic justice they need through the Unemployment Bridge Program. “Local 79 is proud to join our coalition partners today and at the upcoming Albany session in support of this vital policy,” the union member said.
Jose Saldanadirector of the Campaign for the Liberation of Older People in Prison, also highlighted that the bill serves inmates who are released from prison, which will help them resume their lives in society more quickly.
“Our work contributes billions of dollars to the State’s economy. However, they pay us pennies an hour. When we are released after years and decades, our work does not count towards unemployment insurance. “We are left without a safety net at the most critical moment of our reintegration into society,” he said. Saldaña. “The Unemployment Bridge Program would greatly expand successful reintegration outcomes and help countless families who have been trapped in perpetual poverty due to long periods of family separation. Passage of the law would be a benefit to our families, communities and society, and would send a clear message that our work, during incarceration, has equal value.”
Data
- 2024 is the year Albany is expected to approve unemployment insurance for all
- $500 million is the investment that is requested to be added to the budget for that program
- 750,000 undocumented, self-employed and recently released from prison workers would benefit
- 180,000 independent and self-employed workers would benefit
- $1,200 per month would be the amount they would receive each month if they lost their job
- 130,000 undocumented workers benefited from the fund for workers excluded in the pandemic
- 99% of them received $15,600 equivalent to basic unemployment insurance
- $2.1 billion was the investment that the State made in that fund
- Colorado is the state that already has an unemployment program for undocumented immigrants
2023-12-12 17:00:00
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