Workers’ Matters

Airport Workers—Majority Black and Immigrant—on Path to Win Health Care

As many as 25,000 airbly Member Alicia Hyndman exposed to a hodge-podge of port workers, including and I introduced this bill well employer-provided health predominantly Black before the arrival of COVID-19, plans, including many that and immigrant wheelchair atbecause it should not take a won’t even qualify as health intendants, security officers, cabin pandemic for us to value worksurance, with sky high premiand terminal cleaners, and ers’ lives and fulfill their right ums, co-pays and deductibles. other sub-contracted airport to healthcare,” said Senate Bill Many often choose to go withworkers at JFK and LaGuardia Sponsor Alessandra Biaggi (D –out health insurance. And the Airports are a signature from Bronx, Westchester). “By enactrisks that come with working in the Governor away from wining the Healthy Terminals Act, some of the most heavily trafning life-saving health care benwe can provide tens of thouficked airports in the world efits. After a long, hard-fought sands of airport workers, inwithout health insurance are campaign, the New York State cluding those who work for heightened when health scares Legislature passed the trailblazsubcontractors, with the ability happen. ing Healthy Terminals Act to purchase health insurance The COVID-19 pandemic, as (HTA) on Wednesday that now without falling into poverty. I well as previous scares like awaits Governor Cuomo’s sigextend my deepest gratitude to Ebola and SARS, only exposed nature. Senate Majority Leader Andrea what workers in major trans “Workers of color have kept Stewart-Cousins, Assembly portation hubs have always this country together throughMember Alicia Hyndman, and known—they are on the frontout the COVID-19 pandemic, 32BJ SEIU for their partnership lines of any health crisis. affordable, quality health insurattendant for eight years who is even without the basic protecto move this bill forward.” “As essential workers, we ance directly. currently laid off. “I have tion of adequate healthcare,” “Our state needs a healthy know we can be exposed to all Now that the HTA has passed epilepsy, which is very expensaid Vladimir Clairjeune, a workforce so people can do kinds of illnesses, whether or both the State Senate and Assive since I don’t have health Haitian American JFK security their best serving the traveling not there’s a pandemic,” said sembly, the bill will await Govinsurance. I’m looking forward officer who is currently laid off. public. Front line airport workFloyd Adonis a laid off bagernor Cuomo’s signature to to going back to work and help“This is a victory in the much ers have risked their lives by gage handler from JFK who pass into law. ing the passengers, but I’ve larger fight for racial and ecoshowing up to work during owes over $14,000 after being “When Governor Cuomo been worried. We may have nomic justice. In our corner of COVID-19 and other public hospitalized three times this signs this bill, it will change our masks and gloves, but the most the world, we have shown we health crises because they could year with a heart condition. lives and give us the protection important protection is health can make a difference for the not afford to stay home. Noth“People need healthcare every we need to do our jobs, said Jorcare.”p thousands of Black, Latino, and ing is more important than proday. As frontline workers, we dany Bueno a JFK wheelchair immigrant workers who make tecting the people whose job it need to be protected not just for up the fabric of our airports.” “Thousands of sub-contracted airport workers from all backis to protect us, and adequate, affordable health insurance is their first line of defense. I am ourselves, but for the passengers we come NY WORKERS’ grounds have fought for years to transform these low-wage proud to stand with airport workers in their fight for into contact with.” COMPENSATION jobs into family sustaining jobs healthcare. I commend the The landwith good benefits that strengthen our communities and economy,” said 32BJ SEIU Speaker and my colleagues in the Assembly for doing the right thing and passing the mark Healthy Terminals Act will require Are you working? Have you been injured on the job? Was it a serious injury as defined under NY Workers’ President Kyle Bragg. “EssenHealthy Terminals Act. I look employers at Compensation Law? tial airport workers secure terforward to working with the New York airIf yes, then call Figeroux & Associates minals, sanitize planes, keep Governor to ensure our essenports to comfor a FREE Consultation at 718-222-3155. passengers safe and our econtial airport workers are adepensate omy running. They are predominantly Black and quately protected and have the means to attain good healthworkers, including subWhy Should I Hire A Lawyer? immigrant workers who have care,” said Assembly Bill Sponcontracted been devastated by the COVIDsor Alicia Hyndman (D –passenger In addition to being 19 pandemic, all the while dealQueens). services workeligible for workers' ing with systemic racism that In 2011, as many as 10,000 ers, at least a compensation, you may impacts every aspect of their sub-contracted workers at JFK, $4.54 benefits also have a claim against lives. The New York State LegLaGuardia and Newark Intersupplement a party other than your islature, especially bill sponsors State Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman, have set an example national airport mounted one of the most successful union organizing campaigns for fair wages and union rights since that they will be able to use to acquire the quality health employer. That is why it is so important to seek as sistance from our experienced team. for the nation to follow with the creation of the Fight for $15. insurance they this responsible and moral polSince then, 32BJ SEIU members desperately icy to workers and passengers, at New York and New Jersey need. Workers both healthy and safe. We look airports have been at forefront could use this forward to Governor Cuomo in the fight for dignity and resupplement signing the bill, which could be spect on the job and the profesfor health inthe nation’s farthest-reaching sionalization of vital services at surance or empolicy to impact the health and the region’s airports. ployees well-being of essential workers Eventually, these workers working under of color.” “The passage of the Healthy went on to win the nation’s highest mandated minimum collectively bargained conWorkers who know their rights and speak to a lawyer put Terminals Act is fueled by the wage of $19 an hour by 2023. tracts could nethemselves in a better position to obtain a recovery. tireless organizing and strength of essential airport workers, However, their compensation did not include quality, affordgotiate to use this suppleFind Out What Our Firm Can Do For You labor advocates, immigrants, able health insurance. ment to proand working families. Assem Airport workers are currently vide The Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates. Call us at 718-222-3155.

Unions Mobilize for Passage of the HEROES Act, Condemn Senate for Ending $600 COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits

The AFL-CIO and its affiliate labor unions condemn Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his body’s failure to pass the HEROES Act, deepening economic hardship for millions, especially those who will lose the additional $600 in unemployment insurance benefits expiring at the end of this month. For months, millions of laidoff American workers have relied on these increased weekly supplemental benefits to pay the bills and stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The termination of this benefit will have devastating impacts on the economy and America’s workers. "The extra $600-per-week in federal pandemic unemployment compensation has been a total game changer," said AFM Local 802 member Theo Primis. "This extra weekly amount has allowed me and my family of four to pay our bills and put food on our table. Without this extra payment, I’m really not sure how we would do it, especially given the fact that we don’t know

when I’ll be able to return to work as a performing artist in NYC.” Responding to the Senate’s failure to act, the labor movement has been mobilizing in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico to pass the HEROES Act. This groundswell has only grown as the COVID-19 crisis has worsened in recent weeks. On Wednesday alone, nearly 20,000 calls flooded into Senate offices to demand passage of the HEROES Act. The HEROES Act, which includes America’s Five Economic Essentials, is the road map to rebuilding America and empowering working families. The labor movement refuses to stand idle as McConnell’s Senate sits on its hands. Tell your Senator that it’s time to pass the HEROES Act, including the extension of the $600 supplemental benefit, and put the lives of America’s working families first.p

Family: The True Modern Relationship

Getting Divorced? Take Time to Write a Parenting Plan

BYJANET HOWARD

Even an amicable divorce can be busy, stressful, and painful for your children, as well as for you and your spouse. That’s why writing a parenting plan is one of the most important things you can do right now to help ease them through this difficult transition. A parenting plan will increase the certainty and improve the care your children receive after the divorce by spelling out exactly how important childcare issues will be dealt with. It will prevent potential conflicts that could arise in the future, and give your children the stability they need. Your parenting plan should include agreements for:

Custody

The first thing you have to decide is whether or not you will share custody of your children. If you both do not wish to, you need to decide which one of you will be the primary caregiver, which can be a very difficult decision to make. Your children need you to resolve this issue, though, however difficult the decision is. On a related note, you should also decide if the custody agreement will be an informal one or a legally binding one.

Child Visitation

If you decide on a shared custody agreement, the next thing you need to do is work out a visitation schedule. Determine when the children will be with each parent. Will they live with one parent on weekdays and the other on weekends? Do they live with one during the school year and the other during the summer? Whatever you agree too, be sure your agreement has the ability to accommodate any unexpected developments. You also need to work out which one of you will have your children for which of the holidays and special occasions.

Childcare

You will also need to come to an agreement about who will be trusted to provide babysitting and daycare services for both parents. Either relatives or professional services could be used but, either way, it is important that both you and your spouse trust whoever is selected.

Schooling

Will your children go to a public or private school? How will college be paid for? Both you and your spouse need to answer these questions and any other school-related questions, no matter what age your children are.

Medical Issues

You also need to talk about

how or if your children use prescription medications, how mental health care issues will be addressed, and any other medical issues that could come up. You also should decide whose health insurance will be used for your children, and how premiums and copayments will be made.

Communication

It is not surprising if you and your spouse are having trouble communicating in the middle of your divorce. If this is the case, you should agree on how the two of you communicate

about important issues. Maybe only communicating by email is best, or only through a third party. Use whatever works best for keeping the communication neutral and free of negative emotions. It can be difficult to come to an agreement on how to deal with your children while your marriage is coming to an end. It is worth the trouble, though. If you work out an agreement now, your children will quickly be able to find a sense of stability and a sense of the new normal.p