Workers' World Today - Issue 32

May 2022 INSIDE

Buying a House?

Cash vs. Mortgage Payments ...11

What Women Need to Know About Stroke Risks ...9

USCIS Lengthens Work Permit Automatic Extension Period ...15

Issue #32

Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2022

BY AFL-CIO

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his 2022 edition of Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect marks the 31st year the AFL-CIO has produced a report on the state of safety and health protections for America’s workers. This report features national and state information on workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses, as well as the workplace safety inspections, penalties, funding, staffing and public employee coverage under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. It also includes information on the state of mine safety and health and the state of worker

safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fifty-one years ago on April 28, the OSH Act went into effect, promising every worker the right to a safe job. More than 647,000 workers now can say their lives have been saved since the passage of the OSH Act.¹ Since that time, workplace safety and health conditions have improved. But too many workers remain at serious risk of injury, illness or death as

chemical plant explosions, major fires, construction collapses, infectious disease outbreaks, workplace assaults and other preventable workplace tragedies continue to occur.

Workplace hazards kill and disable approximately 125,000 workers each year—4,764 from traumatic injuries, and an estimated 120,000 from occupational diseases. Job injury and illness numbers continue to be severe undercounts of the real problem.

Over the years, our progress has become more challenging as employers’ opposition to workers’ rights and protections has grown, and attacks continued on page 5

Hot Topics and News You Should Know About

NYC Rideshare Club, Fighting for the City's Rideshare & Delivery Workers

BY LINDA NWOKE, SPECIAL TO WWT

Naomi Ogutu President, NYC Rideshare Clun Editorial credit: N. Ogutu

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ew York City has over 100,000 app-based workers comprising delivery workers and Rideshare drivers. That's a lot, you will say.

However, there is little to no protection for the workers due to their status as independent contractors. These app-based workers, especially delivery workers, do not qualify for protection or compensation as required under the federal labor law. continued on page 12

Gregory Floyd: Loading the Gun ...21

DSNY Initiatives: The Dignity of a Clean-Living City ...22

What Would It Mean to Codify Roe into Law Any Chance? ...6

Labor-Related News - Nationally & Locally

What is Monkeypox?

A Microbiologist Explains ...17

The Financial Questions to Ask Before Moving in Together ....19

Immigrants Will Be Vital in America’s Fastest Growing Jobs Through 2030

BY STEVEN HUBBARD

Union Leaders Show Support of Mayoral Accountability ...8

U.S National Women's Soccer Team Wins Equal Pay ...10

Espinal: Making the Case for a “Freelance isn’t Free” Law ...3

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he COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global supply chains and kept people from going back to work at a time when the demand for goods and labor is high. This has left America contending with a labor shortage while also experiencing high levels of inflation.

continued on page 16

Brian Figeroux, Esq.

www.workersworldtoday.com

May 2022

Let the workers organize. Let the toilers assemble. Let their crystallized voice proclaim their injustices and demand their privileges.

Let all thoughtful citizens sustain them, for the future of Labor is the future of America.—John L. Lewis This Day In Labor History - May 1

Contents In Solidarity: Making the Case for a “Freelance isn’t Free” Law in New York’..........................................................3 Workers’ Rights DiNapoli: Chipotle Needs to Address Concerns Over Racial Equity and Inclusion..............................4 Civil Rights What Would It Mean to Codify Roe into Law – What is the Chance of that Happening?..............6 Education Union Leaders Show Support of Mayoral Accountability..............................................8

Eight-hour day demonstration in Chicago and other cities begins tradition of May Day as international labor holiday - 1886

In the News Climate for Change, a Complete Climate Jobs Roadmap for New York City...................................10

Save the Date!

NYC Labor Day Parade and March September 10 Union in Action .... 14 North America’s Building Trades Unions and Ørsted Agree to Build an American Offshore Wind Energy Industry with American Labor

Be Equity Smart Buying a House? Cash vs. Mortgage Payments......................................................................11 Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights USCIS Lengthens Work Permit Automatic Extension Period .......................................................15

COLUMNS Family: The True Modern Relationship .... 9 What Women Need to Know About Stroke Risks

Love, Health & Travel .... 19 The Financial Questions to Ask Before Moving in Together

It may not be widely known that women face unique risk factors for stroke throughout their lifetime. Things like pregnancy, preeclampsia and chronic stress can increase the risk for high blood pressure, a leading cause of stroke.

Love, Health & Travel .... 17 What is Monkeypox?

A Microbiologist Monkeypox isn’t a new disease. The first confirmed human case was in 1970, when the virus was isolated from a child suspected of having smallpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Do you want more?

Conversations .... 22 DSNY Initiatives: The Dignity of a Clean-Living City

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May 2022

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In Solidarity

Making the Case for a “Freelance isn’t Free” Law in New York

BY RAFAEL ESPINAL

E Supports Workers’ World Today

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ecently, I was in Albany fighting and seeking support of A1261/S1947, legislation that will create a clear definition of public work and level the playing field for New York’s contractors.

District Council 9 Painters and Allied Trades Union (DC9), the union for painters, prides itself on being a strong advocate for workers’ rights and safety. We are excited about this new publication, Workers’ World Today, which covers the issues of relevance and concern for all workers.

We are encouraged that all workers: blue and white collar will have a voice and platform.

Congratulations on your inaugural issue. We wish much success to the leaders and team of Workers’ World Today and pledge our support.p Davon Lomax Political Director, DC9

verywhere from luxury buildings on the Upper East Side to Amazon warehouses on Staten Island, New York workers are standing up for their rights and making huge gains. As head of the Freelancers Union, I stand in solidarity with all of these workers and their fight to be protected by a union that safeguards their protections. But often lost in the conversation are the millions of independent workers across this country who choose to work for themselves but have hardly any protections or recourse when they are exploited.

Fortunately, New York State, the home to the first Amazon union in this country, has the solution to expand protections to a large segment of our workforce who exists largely out of our social safety net: the Freelance Isn’t Free Act sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes.

With 59 million freelancers in the United States, independent workers make up more than a third of the U.S. workforce.

And, in 2020, despite the pandemic, freelancers contributed $1.2 trillion in earnings to our economy. In fact as a result of the pandemic, 12% of the U.S. workforce started freelancing.

As more people move away from traditional employment, they are seeking the flexibility of independent work.

Yet, for too long, this group of workers has gone without adequate protections. Freelancers often produce work without the security of a written contract, putting in long and hard hours for a client only to be told, “The check is in

the mail,” or “You have to wait, we have a new accounting system.” We’ve heard horror story after horror story of workers delivering on their end of the agreement, with no recourse when their clients don’t pay.

The pandemic has further highlighted this issue, as nonpayment became the No. 1 complaint our organization received from our members for projects they completed before the shutdowns. A recent study by the Independent Economy Council found that 74% of respondents are not getting paid on time while 59% are owed $50,000 or more for already completed work.

But with the Freelance Isn’t Free Law, independent workers will have a right to a written contract, timely and full payment and protection from retaliation. The law establishes penalties for violations of these rights, including statutory damages, double damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs if a freelancer’s case goes to small claims court and wins.

What’s more, there is precedent for this level of protection, right here in our state. In 2016, the New York City Council passed its landmark Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA), which has been extremely successful in protecting freelancers and establishing legal guardrails where there once were none at all. Currently, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection oversees and enforces FIFA claims. Since 2017, DCWP has received 2,024 complaints from freelancers and recovered over $2 million in owed compensation for their

TEAM Publisher Workers’ World Today, Inc Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip Contributing Writers Linda Nwoke Victoria Falk Jennine Estes, MFT Travis Morales Mary Campbell Janet Howard Wayne Jordan Chris Tobias Manuel Holguin Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Telephone 1-866-435-3286 Email

Rafael Espinal. Photo: Christina Emilie Freelancers Union

work, even bringing a lawsuit against a global media company. According to their 2020 State of Workers Rights Report, more than 1,600 cases were filed and over $1.6 million in restitution and penalties has been collected since 2018.

In 2020, there were 470 complaints filed and 491 investigations opened. Of those, 450 were for unlawful payment practices. The law was vital in getting freelancers paid during the most vulnerable period in the freelance economy.

New Yorkers all across our great state, from Buffalo to the Hudson Valley deserve the same protections. New York has long been one of our country’s major hubs for artists, performers, creatives, and independent workers of all types who are drawn to the Empire State in pursuit of their dreams. This year, we call Albany to do what’s right in safeguarding this ever-growing sector of our economy by making sure freelancers don’t get left behind. p Espinal is the Executive Director of the Freelancers Union. This Op-Ed was originally published in City & State on May 3, 2022.

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We are looking for persons to sell ads in our newspapers. Experience in advertising sales is needed and preferably experience or a sincere interest in marketing.

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May 2022

4

Workers’ Rights

DiNapoli: Chipotle Needs to Address Concerns Over Racial Equity and Inclusion

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ew York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released a statement on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) to fellow Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. shareholders in advance of the company’s annual meeting on May 18 seeking their support for the Fund’s shareholder proposal calling for an independent audit of the company’s practices related to civil rights, racial equity, diversity and inclusion, and how these affect the company’s business.

“Chipotle has expressed support for racial equality, but reality tells a different story,” said DiNapoli, Trustee of the Fund. “More than 60% of Chipotle’s employees are people of color and they have borne the brunt of recent controversies involving scheduling, underpaid wages, sick leave and COVID-19 practices.

Despite its stated commitment to combatting racial inequity,

neither the company nor its board has produced evidence showing they are assessing racial equity. An independent audit looking at these issues is overdue.”

Although Chipotle states it is taking steps to address these issues, it has not disclosed to investors and stakeholders its process for completing this internal review and whether its efforts are working. DiNapoli and the Fund believe it is necessary to have an independent review led by auditors with experience in rooting out discrimination. Failure to assess the risks that corporate racial equity shortcomings pose can impact value and lead to negative implications for companies including customer and employee attrition, negative press, significant fines and regulatory inquiries.

A racial equity audit would follow the model of other large companies where such reviews have already been conducted,

including Starbucks, Facebook and Airbnb. More recently, Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock and Morgan Stanley announced they would be conducting such audits.

DiNapoli noted: In April 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals allowed a collective action lawsuit alleging unpaid overtime claims to proceed against Chipotle, involving claims by more than 500 employees; Chipotle has faced several wage theft claims that seek class-action status including more than 10,000 plaintiffs and has been accused of attempting to delay and obfuscate the claims of thousands of employees who were forced into individual arbitration; In 2020, Chipotle workers filed a coronavirus-related Occupational Safety and Health Administration complaint claiming that employees aren't told when coworkers are quar-

NY State Comptroller seeks support of fellow investors for shareholder proposal calling on company to conduct an independent racial equity audit antined with coronavirus symptoms. There have also been numerous work stoppages and strikes by Chipotle employees who questioned COVID-19 protocols and their safety at work; and In April 2021, New York City’s Department of Con-

sumer and Worker Protection filed a complaint against Chipotle seeking $150 million in worker relief for 599,693 violations of the city’s fair workweek law. Under this law, Chipotle could also be held liable for an additional $300 million in civil penalties. p

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Workers’ Matters Death on the Job/ continued from page 1 on unions have intensified. Big Business and many Republicans have launched an aggressive assault on worker protections. They are attempting to shift employers’ responsibility to maintain a safe workplace to individual worker behavior, and undermine the core responsibilities of workplace safety agencies.

The Trump administration rolled back progress, attacking longstanding workplace safety protections—targeting job safety rules on beryllium, mine safety examinations and injury reporting, and cutting agency budgets and staff—and attempted to dismantle the systems for future protections.

They totally failed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the disparities of those most affected by workplace infection.

In the fall of 2019, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began reducing the number of inspections involving significant cases and complex health hazards, a policy that is still in

place today. In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA was largely absent from workplaces where it has the authority and responsibility to enforce workplace safety laws.

While the number of inspectors and inspections have improved in FY 2021, there is much more progress to be made to meet or exceed prepandemic levels. The COVID19 pandemic also brought to light the weaknesses in federal oversight of state OSHA plans.

Congress continues to fund job safety at stagnant levels, allowing an OSHA budget that still only amounts to $4.37 to protect each worker covered by the OSH Act. While progress is slow, the Biden administration has taken important steps to protect workers, prioritizing worker protections on its regulatory agenda, taking steps on targeted enforcement efforts on urgent hazards, and filling staff and leadership vacancies. It also launched broad efforts on worker empowerment and targeting workplace inequities.

President Joe Biden has appointed and nominated strong

candidates focused on worker protection to lead job safety and health agencies and labor agencies. Immediately upon taking office, he appointed a longtime United Steelworkers (USW) safety and health leader, James Frederick, as acting assistant secretary for occupational safety and health. In April 2021, the Senate confirmed Marty Walsh, the Boston mayor from the construction trades unions, as secretary of labor. In April 2021, Biden nominated Doug Parker to be assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health—the head of OSHA—and he was confirmed Oct. 25, 2021.

Parker served as the California OSHA chief, on the BidenHarris transition team, in chief

policy roles at the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and was executive director of Worksafe—a nonprofit organization focused on workplace injury, illness and death prevention.

John Howard continues to serve as the head of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This is a sharp contrast to President Donald Trump, who nominated corporate officials to head the job safety agencies— people who had records of opposing enforcement and regulatory actions, and who often lacked safety experience.

Over the years, the progress has become more challenging as employers’ opposition to workers’ rights and protections has grown, and attacks

on unions have intensified. Big Business and many Republicans have launched an aggressive assault on worker protections. They are attempting to shift employers’ responsibilities to provide safe jobs to individual workers, and undermine the core responsibilities of workplace safety agencies.

The nation must renew its commitment to protecting workers from job injury, disease and death, and make this a high priority. Employers must meet their responsibilities to protect workers and be held accountable if they put workers in danger. Only then can the promise of safe jobs for all of America’s workers be fulfilled. There is much more work to be done to ensure the fundamental right to a safe job is a reality for all. The job fatality rate was 3.4 per 100,000 workers.

Latino and Black workers remain at greater risk of dying on the job than all workers.p

Download the full report at www.workersworldtoday.com

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May 2022

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Civil Rights

What Would It Mean to Codify Roe into Law – What is the Chance of that Happening?

BY LINDA C. MCCLAIN THE CONVERSATION

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bortion rights advocates are looking for alternative ways to protect a woman’s right to the procedure following the publication of a leaked draft opinion from Justice Samuel Alito indicating that the Supreme Court intends to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“Congress must pass legislation that codifies Roe v. Wade as the law of the land in this country NOW,” tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders as news broke on May 2, 2022. His plea was echoed a day later by Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and President Joe Biden.

But is enshrining abortion rights in legislation feasible?

And why has it not been done before? The Conversation put these questions and others to Linda C. McClain, an expert on civil rights law and femi-

Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com

nist legal theory at Boston University School of Law. What does it mean to ‘codify’ Roe v. Wade?

In simple terms, to codify something means to enshrine a right or a rule into a formal systematic code. It could be done through an act of Congress in the form of a federal law. Similarly, state legislatures can codify rights by enacting laws. To codify Roe for all Americans, Congress would need to pass a law that would provide the same protections that Roe did – so a law

that states that women have a right to abortion without excessive government restrictions. It would be binding for all states.

But here’s the twist: Despite some politicians saying that they want to “codify Roe,” Congress isn’t looking to enshrine Roe in law. That’s because Roe v. Wade hasn’t been in place since 1992. The Supreme Court’s Planned Parenthood. v. Casey ruling affirmed it, but also modified it in significant ways.

In Casey, the court upheld Roe’s holding that a woman

has the right to choose to terminate a pregnancy up to the point of fetal viability and that states could restrict abortion after that point, subject to exceptions to protect the life or health of the pregnant woman. But the Casey court concluded that Roe too severely limited state regulation prior to fetal viability and held that states could impose restrictions on abortion throughout pregnancy to protect potential life as well as to protect maternal health – including during the first trimester.

Casey also introduced the “undue burden” test, which prevented states from imposing restrictions that had the purpose or effect of placing unnecessary barriers on women seeking to end a pregnancy prior to viability of the fetus.

What is the Women’s Health Protection Act? Current efforts to pass federal legislation protecting the right

to abortion center on the proposed Women’s Health Protection Act, introduced in Congress by Congresswoman Judy Chu and sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal in 2021. It was passed in the House, but is blocked in the Senate.

The legislation would build on the undue burden principle in Casey by seeking to prevent states from imposing unfair restrictions on abortion providers, such as insisting a clinic’s doorway is wide enough for surgical gurneys to pass through, or that abortion practitioners need to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

The Women’s Health Protection Act uses the language of the Casey ruling in saying that these so-called TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) laws place an “undue burden” on people seeking an abortion. It also appeals to Casey’s recognition continued on page 7

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Civil Rights Codify Roe into Law/ continued from page 6 that “the ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability to control their reproductive lives.”

Has the right to abortion ever been guaranteed by federal legislation?

You have to remember that Roe was very controversial from the outset. At the time of the ruling in 1973, most states had restrictive abortion laws.

Up to the late 1960s, a majority of Americans opposed abortion. A poll at the time of Roe found the public evenly split over legalization.

To pass legislation you have to go through the democratic process. But if the democratic process is hostile to what you are hoping to push through, you are going to run into difficulties.

Under the U.S. system, certain liberties are seen as so fundamental that protecting them should not be left to the whims of changing democratic majorities. Consider something like interracial marriage. Before the Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia State that banning interracial marriages was unconstitutional, a number of states still banned such unions.

Why couldn’t they pass a law in Congress protecting the right to marry? It would have been difficult because at the time, the majority of people were against the idea of interracial marriage.

When you don’t have sufficient public support for something – particularly if it is unpopular or affects a non-majority group – appealing to the Constitution seems to be the better way to protect a right.

That doesn’t mean you can’t also protect that right through a statute, just that it is harder.

Also, there is no guarantee that legislation passed by any one Congress isn’t then repealed by lawmakers later on.

So generally, rights have more enduring protection if the Supreme Court rules on them?

The Supreme Court has the final word on what is and isn’t protected by the Constitution.

In the past, it has been seen as sufficient to protect a constitutional right to get a ruling from the justices recognizing that right.

But this leaked opinion also points out that one limit of that protection is that the Supreme

Editorial credit: Christopher Penler / Shutterstock.com

Court may overrule its own precedents.

Historically, it is unusual for the Supreme Court to take a right away. Yes, they said the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling – which set up the legal basis for separate-but-equal – was wrong, and overruled it in Brown v. Board of Education. But Brown recognized rights; it didn’t take rights away.

If Alito’s draft ruling is to be the final word, the Supreme Court will be taking away a right that has been in place since 1973. For what I believe is the first time, the Supreme Court would be overriding precedent to take away a constitutional right from Americans.

Moreover, the leaked opinion is dismissive of the idea

that women have to rely on constitutional protection.

“Women are not without electoral or political power,” Alito writes, adding: “The percentage of women who register to vote and cast ballots is consistently higher than the percentage of men who do so.”

But this ignores the fact that women rarely make up close to half of the members of most state legislative bodies.

So are the promises to get Congress to protect abortion rights realistic?

Republicans in the Senate successfully blocked the proposed Women’s Health Protection Act. And unless things change dramatically in Congress, there isn’t much chance of the bill becoming law.

There has been talk of trying to end the filibuster rule, which requires 60 votes in the Senate to pass legislation. But even then, the 50 votes that would be needed might not be there.

What we don’t know is how this Supreme Court leak will affect the calculus. Maybe some Republican senators will see that the writing is on the wall and vote with Democrats.

Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski introduced legislation earlier this year that would codify Roe in law, but isn’t as expansive as the Women’s Health Protection Act. And then we have the midterm elections in November, which might shake up who’s in Congress. If the Democrats lose the House or fail to pick up seats in the Senate, the chances of pushing through any legislation protecting abortion rights would appear very slim. Democrats will be hoping that the Supreme Court ruling will mobilize pro-abortion rights voters.

What is going on at a state level?

Liberal states like Massachusetts have passed laws that codify Roe v. Wade. Now that the Supreme Court’s apparent

intentions are known, expect similar moves elsewhere.

Other states are looking to go a step further by protecting residents who help out-of-state women seeking abortion. Such laws would seemingly counter moves by states like Missouri, which is seeking to push through legislation that would criminalize helping women who go out of state for abortions.

Wouldn’t any federal law just be challenged at the Supreme Court?

Should Congress be able to pass a law enshrining the right to abortion for all Americans, then surely some conservative states will seek to overturn the law, saying that the federal government is exceeding its authority.

If it were to go up to the Supreme Court, then conservative justices would presumably look unfavorably on any attempt to limit individual states’ rights when it comes to abortion. Similarly, any attempt to put in place a federal law that would restrict abortion for all would seemingly conflict with the Supreme Court’s position that it should be left to the states to decide.p Linda C. McClain is a Professor of Law, Boston University

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May 2022

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Education

Union Leaders Show Support of Mayoral Accountability

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ew York, NY: New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David Banks, and union leaders and members on May 9 urged the New York State Legislature to extend mayoral accountability for New York City schools and its nearly 1 million students.

Representatives of District Council 37 (DC37), Hotel Trades Council (HTC), 32BJ SEIU, Local 372, and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) joined the mayor and chancellor in support.

Mayor Adams highlighted the numerous successes of mayoral responsibility, including the launch of Pre-K for All, a more than 20 percent increase in graduation rates, ensuring every school receives 100 percent Fair Student Funding, and coordinating the massive inter-agency COVID19 response. If the state does not take action by June 30th, control of city schools would revert to the decentralized system of 32 school boards that

Mayor Adams Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

existed prior to 2002 — a system that proved vulnerable to politics, corruption, and bureaucracy.

“Continuing mayoral accountability will benefit every one of the nearly 1 million New York City students and will allow us to make transformative changes in the education system to address systemic inequities that plagued public schools for years,” said Mayor Adams.

“Mayoral accountability will also provide parents with certainty as we prepare for the summer and the following school year. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues in Albany to ensure our schools continue moving

in the right direction.”

“Mayoral accountability made it possible to put mental health services in every school, open the largest summer enrichment program ever, and find innovative ways to respond to the needs of our families and students,” DOE Chancellor David Banks.

“Whether it is responding to a crisis or providing the supports for our children's bold futures, it is clear that our students, schools, and communities deserve to have the stability that a quick renewal provides, and I look forward to continuing to work with the legislature on how to best serve future generations of New Yorkers.”

Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks have outlined a bold agenda for New York City Schools that includes expanded opportunities for summer learning; a renewed focus on literacy, screenings, and early interventions for dyslexia; and providing every student with a pathway to a good paying career. Mayoral accountability is essential to driving these and other new initiatives that will help address the impacts of the pandemic on learning and puts all students on the path to success.

“Mayoral control has proven to be an accountability tool for our schools that we cannot ignore,” said DC37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. “It is important that we have in place an educational system that seeks to create standards, push back against inequities from one school district to the next, and provide a strong foundation for our 1.1 million students. We support the extension of mayoral control and recognize the valuable impact it has had on the Department

of Education's operations.”

“New York City’s 1.1 million school children should be above politics and our schools system should embrace clear accountability,” said 32BJ SEIU President Kyle Bragg. “There is absolutely no doubt that extending mayoral control is to everyone’s benefit – students, teachers, and parents alike.

Going back in time to a premayoral control system would be a disaster. Our kids would lose out and our schools would be thrown into chaos.”

“With thousands of our members who have children in the city’s public schools, ensuring that they have an effective and accountable leadership structure is a major priority,” said HTC President Rich Maroko. “We’ve seen how educational outcomes and opportunities have improved during the past 20 years of mayoral accountability and now is not the time to take a step backward.

We urge the legislature to continue the path to success for more than 1 million children and extend this essential policy.

“Our members depend on public schools to provide opportunity for their children.

These families deserve the accountability and streamline decision making that only continued mayoral control can provide,” said RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum. “As mayoral control’s expiration date draws near, no viable alternative has been put forward. That is unacceptable our city’s children must not be left in the lurch or subjected to stifling bureaucracy and unaccountable boards. The RWDSU supports the continuation of mayoral control for our city’s public schools.”

“Extending mayoral accountability is a critical priority for New York City families and for the food service employees that we represent,” said Local 372 President Shaun D. Francois. “Having accountability starts with oneself, and in order to lead, you yourself have had to be in the trenches to actually feel and understand what a person is experiencing.

That is what Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks have done, and under their leadership we will keep our schools and our city aggressively moving forward! Stay Ready!”p

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May 2022

9

Family: The True Modern Relationship

What Women Need to Know About Stroke Risks

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t may not be widely known that women face unique risk factors for stroke throughout their lifetime. Things like pregnancy, preeclampsia and chronic stress can increase the risk for high blood pressure, a leading cause of stroke.

Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death among women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 1 in 5 women will have a stroke. However, a large majority of strokes can be prevented.

Start managing your stroke risk with these tips from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association: Monitor Your Blood Pressure The first step you can take in reducing your risk for stroke is knowing your blood pressure and keeping it in a healthy range. High blood pressure is the No. 1 preventable cause of stroke, according to the American Heart Association.

The best way to know your blood pressure is to have it measured at least once per year by a health care professional and regularly monitor it at home then discuss the numbers with a doctor. For most people, a normal blood pressure should be 120/80 mm HG or less.

In addition to properly monitoring blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, eating healthfully and reducing or eliminating alcohol and tobacco usage can help control blood pressure.

Plan for Pregnancy In the United States, high blood pressure during pregnancy is becoming more common, according to the CDC, and medical conditions including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and blood clots during pregnancy all increase stroke risk during and immediately following a pregnancy.

Managing conditions like high blood pressure before getting pregnant helps keep

you and your baby healthy during pregnancy and beyond. In addition, your health during and immediately after a pregnancy can shape the lifelong health of you and your child. If you’re planning to become pregnant or are currently pregnant, it’s important to regularly monitor your blood pressure.

Take Care of Your Mental Health Some stress is unavoidable but constant stress is not healthy. Chronic or constant stress may lead to high blood pressure and other unhealthy behavior choices, which can increase risk for stroke.

Based on findings in a Stress in America 2020 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, the top sources of stress are money, work, family responsibilities and health concerns. Managing your stress and blood pressure can improve your overall health and well-being.

Reclaim control of your schedule and build in time to invest in your health. Find 10 minutes every day to do something for you, like listening to music, meditating or going for a walk.

Learn the Warning Signs A stroke can happen to anyone at any point in life. Imme-

diate treatment may help minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

Learn how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T: •Face drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

•Arm weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

•Speech difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like “The sky is blue.”

•Time to call 911 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get to a hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Talk to your doctor about ways to improve your wellbeing and help prevent stroke.

Find more wellness tips at stroke.org. (FamilyFeatures)p

May 2022

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10

In the News

Actors’ Equity Association Secures Release from NonDisclosure Agreements for Members Who Worked Under Abusive Employer

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ctors’ Equity Association has reached an agreement with The Broadway League that releases its members who worked on several Broadway productions from non-disclosure agreements they signed that prohibited them from speaking about workplace abuses from producer Scott Rudin. Equity first called for this change when Rudin was accused by former assistants last year of abusive workplace behavior, and it became clear that NDAs were preventing far more workers from speaking out.

The League also agrees that going forward its members will only use non-disclosure language in contracts or riders in limited, approved circumstances, such as protecting intellectual property or financial information. Producing members of The Broadway League may no longer use NDAs to silence actors and stage managers who want to speak out against workplace harassment, bullying or discrimination. Equity intends to bring similarly protective language forward in negotiations with their other bargaining partners in support of creating a new industry standard.

“As new shows develop, we understand that sometimes NDAs are necessary to protect these works in progress,” said Al Vincent, Jr., executive director of Actors’ Equity Association. “However, NDAs may not and will not be used to protect anyone from the consequences of their own bad behavior. This settlement is a major step in ensuring they will not be used in that way again.” p

Climate for Change, a Complete Climate Jobs Roadmap for New York City

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limate for Change, a Complete Climate Jobs Roadmap for New York City, a new report released on May 19 by Cornell University’s Labor Leading on Climate Program. The report presents a roadmap for New York City to fight the climate crisis, make NYC safer and address racial and economic inequity by investing in a pro-worker renewable energy transition. The report, which finds that New York City’s climate goals are not ambitious enough and that climate work is not happening at scale, outlines a concrete plan for the City to slash emissions and create high-quality union careers.

“Public schools, CUNY, NYCHA, and many other New York City facilities can all play a role in our city’s fight against climate change,” said NYC CLC President Vincent Alvarez.

“The roadmap presented to city leaders is clear in how we can cut carbon emissions while creating good union jobs and ensuring the resiliency of our city for decades to come. New York City unions are ready to work with the City Council and Mayor to bring

the Climate for Change report to life and bring opportunities to underserved neighborhoods in the process.”

The report comes as the Adams administration and city officials debate how to invest millions of dollars in unallocated federal infrastructure and relief funds. The report was developed in consultation with unions and labor groups including the NYC CLC, 32BJ SEIU, United Federation of Teachers, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, District Council 37 and the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, New York State Nurses Association, Communication Workers of America and UA Local Union No. 1 The Plumbers of New York City as well as environmental, industry and governmental leaders in New York City. CJNY is urging City leaders to adopt the measures recommended in the report to drastically reduce carbon emissions and pollution and advance job creation and equity.p

U.S National Women's Soccer Team Wins Equal Pay

Megan Rapinoe of USA celebrates after scoring during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Editorial credit: feelphoto / Shutterstock.com

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ontracts approved this week will guarantee, for the first time, that soccer players representing the United States men’s and women’s national teams will receive the same pay when competing in international matches and competitions.

In addition to equal rates of pay for individual matches, the deals include a provision, believed to be the first of its kind, through which the teams will pool the unequal prize money payments U.S. Soccer receives from FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, for their participation in the quadrennial World Cup. Starting with the 2022 men’s tournament and the 2023 Women’s World Cup, that money will be shared equally among the members of both teams.

That is the cornerstone of what the women have been seeking all along — a quest that included a contentious lawsuit and a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed in 2016 by Megan Rapinoe and four other women’s national team stars.

The difference in compensation for men and women has been one of the most contentious issues in soccer in recent years, particularly after the American women won consecutive World Cup championships, in 2015 and 2019, and the men failed to qualify for the 2018 tournament.

On the USWNT’s milestone equalpay deal, Rapinoe said, “I don’t think you can overstate how huge this is not

just for us, but hopefully, kind of setting a new tone going forward.”

It’s kinda ironic that Rapinoe, who is 36 and nearing the end of her superb career with the U.S. national team, won’t be reaping many of the financial benefits of this new arrangement she fought so hard for.

Howerver, she is proud of the legacy she’ll be leaving for the next generation of U.S. women’s soccer, just as the previous generation started the quest.

“I feel like we’re just building blocks on each other,” Rapinoe added. “I think this fighting spirit that we have, and just our inability and unwillingness to quit or take less, or to be quiet about the inequities that we face, comes from them — ‘91, and ‘95 and ’99 [previous World Cup teams]. And all of those players that came before — that’s the DNA, that’s the fabric, that’s why we’re here fighting the way that we are.

“I know they won’t see the benefits of it. I’ll barely see the benefits of it. But I hope everybody takes pride in knowing that they were a huge part in hopefully seismically shifting soccer in this country for women.”p

40th IBEW International Convention

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elegates from across the IBEW in the United States and Canada traveled to Chicago for the union’s 40th International Convention. A total of 1,639 delegates from 515 local unions including New York's IBEW Local 3 were present as of the first day, ac-

counting for nearly 600,000 of the approximately 750,000 members of the IBEW. Highlights included a keynote address by President Joe Biden, the first time the IBEW International Convention has hosted a sitting president. p

www.workersworldtoday.com

May 2022

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Be Equity Smart

Buying a House? Cash vs. Mortgage Payments

BY WAYNE JORDAN

T

here are two main ways to finance a house: take a mortgage or pay cash upfront. Both approaches have their pros and cons, but only one is right for you.

Learn why to pay cash for a house vs. get mortgage preapproval to make the right choice for your needs in the long term.

Why Pay Cash for a House?

By paying cash for a house, you get all of the advantages of home ownership without going into debt. This is the chief advantage of paying cash: you own your home outright and can start to save what you would have spent on monthly mortgage payments. Over the 15- or 30-year lifetime of a mortgage, you will save tens of thousands of dollars in interest payments alone.

There's also a mindset bene-

fit to paying cash: When you aren't indebted to the bank, you are secure in the fact that no one can take your house from you. You can take pride in knowing you are able to leave your property to your heirs as a legacy.

Individuals who are selling a large home and buying something smaller will be able to reinvest a portion of their payment in another property, then save the rest. Thrifty individuals who've managed to save all the money for a home can likewise avoid taking out a mortgage.

In a tight real estate market where there are bidding wars over properties, paying cash for a home can offer you an advantage over buyers who must get mortgage pre-approval. Since you can move forward quickly, a motivated seller may select your offer over others.

If you're in the business of flipping houses, paying cash

can make sense. You will be able to purchase and renovate properties quickly, sell a home, then take the proceeds and buy your next fixerupper.

Why Take a Mortgage?

For many people, mortgage financing is their only path to home ownership. By paying a small amount upfront and getting a mortgage for the rest of the asking price, individuals can become home owners and start building equity.

Yet even if you have enough money saved up to pay cash for a house, it may not be the smartest use of your money.

When interest rates are low, it may be best to put your money in the market--so you can make more of it--and take out a mortgage.

It's financially risky to tie up a large portion of your liquid assets (i.e. cash) in something like a house. If you would need to borrow to cover some-

Call 888-670-6791 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Downtown Brooklyn

thing like a medical emergency because you don't have a sizable emergency fund, it's wise to take a mortgage and save your money for the unexpected.

Mortgages also come with tax breaks, such as the option to deduct real estate taxes. If you've paid cash for your house, you're not able to realize these tax breaks.

Mortgages have one more benefit, assuming your property increases in value. When it's time to sell your home, the return on investment is larger when you've financed your home than when you've paid in cash.

No matter how you finance it, home ownership is the ultimate dream for many people — and there's no "one size fits all" approach to it. Knowing why to pay cash for a home vs. take out a mortgage, you can determine what makes sense for you—and then start saving for your down payment or your all-cash purchase.

We are happy to help and share our insight and experience to help you with the real estate investing process. Schedule an appointment today. Call 888-670-6791.p Wayne Jordan is a real estate agent at Equity Smart Realty Inc.

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May 2022

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Workers’ Safety NYC Rideshare Club / continued from page 1 Hence, several workers have suffered untold and uncompensated mishaps from reckless drivers, e-bike thefts, and hardship that sometimes leads to mental health issues and suicide.

Yet, no respite seems to be on the horizon from the government or their employers. So, workers are taking matters into their hands and fighting for themselves. In the words of Shirley Chisolm, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair."

The ideology behind this famous phrase made Ms. Naomi Ogutu, President of NYC Rideshare Club, establish and drive an organization to protect rideshare workers. Speaking to Workers' World Today, she discussed the organization and its mission of fighting for rideshare and delivery essential workers on issues that affect their lives while working.

The Organization: NYC Rideshare Club Made up of over 4500 rideshare drivers and now including delivery workers in

Naomi OgutuPresident, NYC Rideshare Clun being interviewed by Workers’ World Today

New York City, her organization, NYC Rideshare Club, was established in 2017 and forms one of the nine members of the Coalition. "Justice for App Workers is a coalition of nine organizations and more than 100,000 members strong. The groups that form the Coalition are the NYC Rideshare Club, United Delivery Workers Association, International Alliance of Delivery Workers, The Independent Drivers Guild, Long Island Uber and Lyft Network, and Black Cab Mafia. We also have Utany and NYC Drivers Unite."

The Coalition's Mission One of the critical missions of the body is holding the mil-

lion-dollar app giants accountable for workers' welfare on issues of a decent living wage.

"So, we demanded that we have a fair wage for our drivers and delivery workers because the app companies take a lot of commission from us.

You'll be surprised that the driver gets only 60% of the money you pay. They don't have a uniform commission system. We have created a petition and sent 10,000 letters to Uber and Lyft asking them to take just 10% of the commission and let the driver take home 90% of the commission," she explained.

Other demands include the right to unionize, ending unfair deactivation, and access to

reliable bathrooms. "The other demand is we want to have a right to form a union."

Recalling some member stories and experiences, she revealed unfair circumstances that lead to the loss of a workers' livelihood often faced by the members." We have drivers and delivery workers who get deactivated for factors beyond their control. For instance, a delivery worker goes to deliver food, and the food is cold. All you did was receive the food from the restaurant, ride your bike or drive, go to the destination, and hand over the food. The customer finds the food is cold, and they put a complaint against you."

She explained that the accu-

mulation of these negative ratings results in deactivating the member's account and jeopardizing a source of livelihood.

"Same applies to drivers.

Maybe streets are closed for the Brooklyn Marathon, and passengers want to get to their destination quickly. Sometimes the driver uses a different route to get you to your destination. A customer can complain and say that the driver took the wrong way or took a long time, and once they report you and you get that kind of report three times, you are deactivated."

Demanding access to health and mental health care "The other issue is access to health and mental health care.

We want drivers to have access to counseling and health care and different facilities that the City of New York can offer to support our drivers. A few years ago, we had drivers committing suicide because they are stressed out."

Furthermore, "Some of them have to deal with issues that are beyond our control, like COVID-19. When COVID continued on page 13

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May 2022

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Workers’ Safety NYC Rideshare Club / continued from page 12 came, it left most of us in a position that we are still trying to recover from, severely affecting our drivers."

Seeking access to clean, decent, and accessible bathrooms in the City of New York Ogutu explains that attending to nature's call while on the job costs them money because of an unfavorable work environment. "After COVID, you can't even get a clean bathroom, and you can't get a restaurant or even a hotel to let you use their bathrooms. Our drivers must turn off the app and go out of Manhattan to look for a bathroom. They spend the time they are supposed to be making money looking for bathrooms."

She explained that women drivers are affected by the lack of hygienic bathrooms. "I have to turn off my app when I'm in Manhattan and drive to the Wegmans in Brooklyn, across the Brooklyn Bridge or Manhattan Bridge, go to Brooklyn just to use the bathroom," she

Editorial credit: Christopher Penler / Shutterstock.com

quipped.

Moreover, they also must navigate locations with complicated policies, like Manhattan. "We cannot park in Manhattan. If you double park, you get a ticket. So even that is also a problem. We're asking the City of New York, the Department of Transportation (DOT), to allow us some time, like 5 minutes, and let the driver park in a 'no-parking' zone.

Such daily work-related challenges affect the quality of service and the City's economy because of the loss of wages

and taxes. "It takes a lot of time, said Ogutu." "If you count how many hours I'm wasting, just going to look for a bathroom. And we feel like New York and these app companies should find facilities or even have a contract with a hotel. They can allow us to use the facilities at a fee so that drivers can be comfortable while driving. So, for your safety, your driver needs to be comfortable when driving."

Pathway to Membership To become a member of the Coalition, workers can join any

of the nine-member organizations free of charge. "All you have to do is check the websites of the different groups and register to be a member," says Ogutu. "Our website is www.nycrideshareclub.org."

Another way includes joining a social media group. "The other way is to look for us on Facebook. My group is NYC Rideshare Club. If you are a driver, you must answer questions and send a screenshot of your 'Uber-like' page. All drivers and delivery workers are welcome to join our group," she added.

Message to Passengers & Public In a message to the public, especially passengers, she reaffirmed their commitment to excellent service while advocating for their support in demanding better welfare from the workers. "My message to them today is when you are in the car and see your driver in front of you. Just know that this driver is just like you, going through all the problems you go through. And if you have some extra money, you

can tip your driver. It will make their day. Also, please help us with our petition.

Whenever you see our petitions, you can help by signing them so that you help us pass our message to Uber and Lyft."

The Rideshare President recalled their role during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the most satisfying moments of her profession. "During COVID, our community did a lot for the City. We were doing food delivery to the elderly and the sick. The drivers were given PPE and were able to drop the meals at the door for the grandparents. We made sure everybody had a hot, warm meal during the pandemic.

And that's the most fulfilling thing, to see that you have made a difference in that person's life. I'm so proud of our work as drivers and delivery workers during the pandemic.

And it's our pleasure and privilege to serve New York City."p For more information on the Coalition, visit: justiceforappworkers.org

Legal Training Certificate Program for Shop Stewards & Union Members in the Health Industry We believe an educated worker is an empowered worker. We want to help all workers to understand and advocate for their rights effectively.

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Mandatory Topics lIntroduction to Legal Research and Writing lIntroduction to Immigration Law lIntroduction to Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Law lIntroduction to Social Security Disability Law lIntroduction to Labor Law: Your Rights in the Workplace lIntroduction to Legal Issues & Ethical Issues for Healthcare Workers lIntroduction to Healthcare Law Research lIntroduction to Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning lIntroduction to Workers’ Compensation lIntroduction to Employment Discrimination & Sexual Harassment lIntroduction to Labor Unions & Racism lIntroduction to Workplace Health & Safety

Registration Fee: $550 (non-refundable) Includes Individual Chamber Membership

Register at www.freeparalegal.org

Choose 3 Optional Topics lIntroduction to Contracts lIntroduction to Diversity, Inclusion & Equality lIntroduction to Podcasting & Newletter Development lIntroduction to Article 78 lIntroduction to CMS Guidelines & Medical Documentation lIntroduction to Bankruptcy & Taxation lIntroduction to Negotiation & Effective Communication lIntroduction to Civil Rights

PLUS: Mandatory Citizenship & Labor Issues Clinic Presented by:

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May 2022

14

Union In Action

North America’s Building Trades Unions and Ørsted Agree to Build an American Offshore Wind Energy Industry with American Labor

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ashington, D.C. , May 5, 2022: Today, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and Ørsted, the U.S. leader in offshore wind energy, announced a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) to construct the company’s U.S. offshore wind farms with an American union workforce. A first-of-itskind in the United States, the National Offshore Wind Agreement (NOWA) sets the bar for working conditions and equity, injects hundreds of millions of dollars in middle-class wages into the American economy, creates apprenticeship and career opportunities for communities most impacted by environmental injustice, and ensures projects will be built with the safest and besttrained workers in America.

Authorized by 15 International

Union Presidents and their local affiliates, the NOWA covers all of Ørsted’s contractors and subcontractors that will perform offshore windfarm construction from Maine down to Florida.

“The signing of this unprecedented agreement is historic for America’s workers and our energy future. NABTU’s highly trained men and women professionals have the best craft skills in the world.

This partnership will not only expand tens of thousands of career opportunities for them to flourish in the energy transition but also lift up even more people into the middle-class,” said Sean McGarvey, President of NABTU. “The constant drumbeat of public support for unions being important to maintain and build the middle class helped secure this momentous achievement. We commend Ørsted, AFL-CIO

President Shuler, the Biden Administration and many Congressional leaders for their help and support to make today’s signing a reality and for setting forth a new framework for middle-class job creation in all energy sectors.”

“This historic milestone is a celebration for workers, clean energy and economic opportunity,” said David Hardy, CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America. “The National Offshore Wind Agreement we signed with NABTU sets the industry standard from the beginning. We’re going to build an American offshore wind energy industry with American workers, family-sustaining wages, and robust and equitable training programs to achieve this critical vision.”

Industry reports project that offshore wind will directly create approximately 80,000 jobs with 5.75 million-plus union work hours and tens of thousands more indirect jobs in manufacturing, maritime work, logistics and clean energy technology. Positioning the U.S. as a global offshore wind energy leader, the NOWA training and employment provisions will increase union construction workforce capabilities to build complex offshore wind energy infrastructure and propel forward a new commercial-scale domestic energy industry. Portfolio-wide, Ørsted has already committed $23 million to enhance or establish new programming that will prepare American workers for jobs in offshore wind.

“This is what it looks like to put the words ‘high-road labor standards’ into action,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“The partnership between Ørsted and NABTU is monumental, for the thousands of workers who will have great jobs, and for the example it sets for the U.S. offshore wind industry. The project labor agreement signed today is proof that labor and employers working together can create an equitable clean energy transition with opportunity for everyone. When we make good on our values – workers’ rights, gender and racial justice, economic equality, and safe and healthy workplaces – then we all win. This PLA meets that test and sets the bar high for working people

and the planet. Clean energy jobs can and will be good-paying, family-sustaining union jobs.”

With diversity targets, local training programs, and workforce diversity performance monitoring, the NOWA is designed to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce, while expanding opportunities in offshore wind to frontline communities. It establishes project-by-project Workforce Equity Committees to prioritize recruiting and retaining people of color, women, gender-nonconforming people and local environmental justice communities. Ørsted and the unions are committed to working with NABTU-affiliated pre-apprenticeship programs and Registered Apprenticeship programs that already recruit directly from nonprofit programs to train and support communities of color, women and other priority groups, and the NOWA will build on this precedent. Ørsted operates America’s first offshore wind farm, Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island, and has the largest U.S. offshore wind energy portfolio. Ørsted, with its joint venture arrangements, has six offshore wind projects in development, which include approximately 5,000 megawatts, enough to power more than 2 million homes. In New England, the company and its joint venture partner, Eversource, are building Revolution Wind (704 MW), Sunrise Wind (924 MW) and South Fork Wind (132 MW). Ørsted’s New Jersey projects include Ocean Wind 1 (1,100 MW), in partnership with PSEG, and Ocean Wind 2 (1,148 MW). In Maryland, Ørsted is developing Skipjack Wind (966 MW). Today’s announcement builds on the developers’ successful history of using union labor to deliver high-quality projects in partnership with local building trades councils like the South Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council, the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council, and the New York Greater Capital Region Council. Together, the local PLAs and the NOWA, demonstrate Ørsted’s commitment to American organized labor as a true partner in building this new industry.p

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May 2022

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Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

USCIS Lengthens Work Permit Automatic Extension Period to Address Adjudication Delays

BY EMMA WINGER

U

.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a temporary rule last week that automatically extends employment authorization for certain noncitizens waiting for USCIS to process their work permit renewal applications.

As of December 2021, over 80,000 noncitizens had lost or would soon lose the right to work because of adjudication delays and a growing backlog.

Effective May 4, 2022, work authorization for certain renewal applicants is extended for 540 days. This is up from 180 days under the old rule.

Some noncitizens, like green card holders, are automatically authorized to work. But many noncitizens living lawfully in the United States must apply for a work permit to

legally work. USCIS issues time-limited work permits.

For example, asylum applicants generally receive work permits that are valid for two years. If their asylum application is still pending after two years—as many are—then the person must apply to renew that work permit.

Under a rule issued in 2016, certain noncitizens would receive a 180-day automatic extension of their work authorization if they timely applied for renewal. The rule was designed to prevent gaps in employment authorization.

But starting in 2021, 180 days proved insufficient to protect thousands of noncitizens from losing their jobs. By December 2021, USCIS was taking upwards of 11 months to process renewals for noncitizens with pending green card and asylum applications.

USCIS anticipates that without the longer extension period, approximately 14,500 people would lose their employment authorization each month.

The new rule became effective immediately. Under the rule, anyone who received an automatic extension had that extension increased to 540 days. The rule applies to people whose automatic extension had already expired but are still waiting for a decision on their renewal application.

Those who lost employment authorization because their 180-day automatic extension expired now have employment authorization again for a total of 540 days.

The rule is temporary. Only people who submit renewal applications on or before October 26, 2023, can benefit from the 540-day extension period.

USCIS states that it will use the next one and a half years to address the backlog and return processing times to normal levels.

In issuing this temporary rule, USCIS acknowledged that immigrants are important contributors to the U.S. workforce. As demand for workers outpaces the number of available workers, USCIS recognized the burden placed on employers forced to suddenly find replacement staff due to USCIS’ delays.

The agency also described the harm to noncitizens who, through no fault of their own, lose their livelihood and the ability to support their families. People need a valid work permit for essential protections, like a driver’s license and health care.

USCIS focused on asylum seekers in particular. The agency noted that a gap in employment authorization “exacerbates the often-precarious continued page 16

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Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights Immigrants Vital / continued from page 15 To investigate further, the new report “Amid Rising Inflation, Immigrant Workers Help Ease Labor Shortages” examines how immigration can help meet labor demands and move the U.S. economy forward.

Using employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), data from the American Community Survey, and data on job openings from Burning Glass, the American Immigration Council created an interactive data visualization to explain how the labor market has shifted since the pandemic, show which occupations will experience increased demand, and detail how immigrant workers will continue to be vital to the fastest growing jobs from now until 2030.

The interactive shows that healthcare practitioners like nurses, physicians, and surgeons had the highest number of online job postings in 2021 at 4.9 million. These are also some of the same occupations that immigrants are disproportionately active in. While immigrants make up 13.7% of the

overall U.S. population, they make up 15.6% of all healthcare practitioners.

The report also identifies occupations that grew the most in online job postings between 2019 and 2021. The top six occupational groups that experienced high growth were: transportation, construction, healthcare support, buildings and grounds, manufacturing, and food preparation. Many of these groups are made up of occupations that were widely considered essential during the pandemic and as such, saw increased demand during the first two years of the pandemic. Like healthcare professions, these essential jobs also have higher shares of immigrant workers ranging from 19.1% to 34.4%, all of which are higher than the immigrant share of the U.S. population.

Job growth patterns over the

next decade, however, will look different from the ones seen during the pandemic. As baby boomers age, demand for healthcare support workers is expected to rise substantially and projected to have the highest growth rate from now to 2030. Over one in five workers (22.4%) in these occupations are immigrants.

Occupations related to computers and math had little growth in 2021. These occupations, however, are projected to have the fourth highest growth rate in the next decade. In 2019, one in five workers (24.7%) in fields like statistics, software, and web development were immigrants.

The report also includes an interactive tool to explore how the pandemic, the aging of the existing workforce, and other projected labor exits are expected to impact the U.S. labor

force. The report’s tool highlights how the U.S. labor market by 2030 will need more immigrant workers because of demographic trends. Gen Z, those born after 1996, are a numerically smaller generation that will produce fewer U.S.born workers than the baby boomers who are leaving the workforce. The gap between this growing demand and the diminishing supply of U.S.born workers means that more workers will need to come from abroad or these positions will go unfilled.

As the U.S. economy continues to evolve and as demands for workers shift, we will launch a Labor Market Series that will further explore a variety of issues related to the U.S. labor market and immigration.

From agriculture to high-tech sectors of the labor market and from Maine to California, the series will examine how labor demands are changing and how immigration plays into our ability to meet these demands. Each part of the Labor Market Series aims to highlight the importance of immigrants and immigration in creating a dynamic and more prosperous economy for all. p

Work Permit / continued from page 15 economic situations asylum seekers may be in as a result of fleeing persecution in their home countries.” USCIS explained that access to health care, and especially mental health services, is key for asylum seekers “due to the prevalence of trauma-induced mental health concerns, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”

The ability to work may also be essential to pay for an immigration attorney, as there is no right to a government-funded lawyer.

Though the rule is effective immediately, USCIS has given the public an opportunity to submit comments until July 5, 2022.

The rule represents a longoverdue and essential protection as the agency works its way through a large and growing backlog. It’s important to recognize that the backlog is a result not only of the obstacles brought on by the nationwide pandemic but also USCIS’ own past policy decisions designed to make it more difficult for noncitizens to pursue legal status.p

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Love, Health & Travel

What is Monkeypox? A Microbiologist Explains The name “monkeypox” comes from the first documented cases of the illness in animals in 1958, when two outbreaks occurred in monkeys kept for research. However, the virus did not jump from monkeys to humans, nor are monkeys major carriers of the disease.

BY RODNEY E. ROHDE THE CONVERSATION

O

n May 18, 2022, Massachusetts health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a single case of monkeypox in a patient who had recently traveled to Canada. Cases have also been reported in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Monkeypox isn’t a new disease. The first confirmed human case was in 1970, when the virus was isolated from a child suspected of having smallpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Monkeypox is unlikely to cause another pandemic, but with COVID-19 top of mind, fear of another major outbreak is understandable. Though rare and usually mild, monkeypox can still potentially cause severe illness. Health officials are concerned that more cases will arise with increased

travel.

I’m a researcher who has worked in public health and medical laboratories for over three decades, especially in the realm of diseases with animal origins. What exactly is happening in the current outbreak, and what does history tell us about monkeypox?

A cousin of smallpox Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to a subset of the

Poxviridae family of viruses called Orthopoxvirus. This subset includes the smallpox, vaccinia and cowpox viruses.

While an animal reservoir for monkeypox virus is unknown, African rodents are suspected to play a part in transmission.

The monkeypox virus has only been isolated twice from an animal in nature. Diagnostic testing for monkeypox is currently only available at Laboratory Response Network labs in the U.S. and globally.

Epidemiology Since the first reported human case, monkeypox has been found in several other central and western African countries, with the majority of infections in the DRC. Cases outside of Africa have been linked to international travel or imported animals, including in the U.S. and elsewhere.

The first reported cases of monkeypox in the U.S. was in 2003, from an outbreak in Texas linked to a shipment of animals from Ghana. There were also travel-associated cases in November and July 2021 in Maryland.

Because monkeypox is closely related to smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can provide protection against infection from both viruses. Since smallpox was officially eradicated, however, routine smallpox vaccinations for the U.S. general population were stopped in 1972. Because of this, monkeypox has been appearing increasingly in unvaccinated people.

Transmission The virus can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or animal or contaminated surfaces. Typically, the virus enters the body through broken skin, inhalation or the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth. Researchers believe that humanto-human transmission is mostly through inhalation of large respiratory droplets rather than direct contact with continued page 18

COVID-19 IS STILL HERE TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF Wear a mask indoors or if you feel sick.

Get tested if you have symptoms or were exposed.

Get vaccinated and boosted.

Get evaluated for treatment if you have COVID-19.

If you have COVID-19, call your doctor. If you do not have a doctor, call 212-COVID19 to be evaluated for treatment.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus.

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Love, Health & Travel

New Opportunity to Prevent Postpartum Depression

Monkeypox/ continued from page 17 bodily fluids or indirect contact through clothes. Humanto-human transmission rates for monkeypox have been limited.

Health officials are worried the virus may currently be spreading undetected through community transmission, possibly through a new mechanism or route. Where and how infections are occurring are still under investigation.

Signs and symptoms After the virus enters the body, it starts to replicate and spread through the body via the bloodstream. Symptoms usually don’t appear until one to two weeks after infection.

Monkeypox produces smallpox-like skin lesions, but symptoms are usually milder than those of smallpox. Flulike symptoms are common initially, ranging from fever and headache to shortness of breath. One to 10 days later, a rash can appear on the extremities, head or torso that eventually turns into blisters filled with pus. Overall, symptoms usually last for two to four

weeks, while skin lesions usually scab over in 14 to 21 days.

While monkeypox is rare and usually non-fatal, one version of the disease kills around 10% of infected people. The form of the virus currently circulating is thought to be milder, with a fatality rate of less than 1%.

Vaccines and treatments Treatment for monkeypox is primarily focused on relieving symptoms. According to the CDC, no treatments are available to cure monkeypox infection.

Evidence suggests that the smallpox vaccine can help prevent monkeypox infections

and decrease the severity of the symptoms.

One vaccine known as Imvamune or Imvanex is licensed in the U.S. to prevent monkeypox and smallpox.

Vaccination after exposure to the virus may also help decrease chances of severe illness.

The CDC currently recommends smallpox vaccination only in people who have been or are likely to be exposed to monkeypox. Immunocompromised people are at high risk.p Rodney E. Rohde is a Regents' Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science, Texas State University

BY NATHANIEL Z. COUNTS, J.D

M

ental health and well-being are high priorities for organizations across industries. This was true before COVID-19, however, is even more so now.

Growing mental health concerns exist in the construction industry because it ranks second highest in suicide rates among major industries.

Are you looking to get into the health & wellness business?

In 2019, a major study found that getting the right care can make pregnant individuals less likely to develop postpartum depression. The government now recommends that medical providers offer services, such as Mothers and Babies, to address early warning signs, and most types of health insurance now cover them.

The new coverage could be game-changing for families in the U.S. – postpartum depression has huge consequences for birthing individuals and their children, and the chance to reduce the burden could help millions.

Unfortunately, there is still a long road ahead before people can actually access these prevention services. Changing medical practice is expensive, continued page 20

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Love, Health & Travel

The Financial Questions to Ask Before Moving in Together procedure (answer some questions, then have a treat) until your questions are answered.

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

Y

ou're in love, and you've both made the choice: It's time to move in together. Congratulations!

Before you move in with your significant other, however, there are some very important financial questions you have to ask each other.

Tackling money issues headon and before you combine your household and your finances will reap huge benefits in your relationship later.

1. What is your financial picture?

This is the big one. If you are ready to combine households, you absolutely cannot make good financial decisions together unless you understand each other's money situation.

It's also one of those sneaky questions that contain a lot of other smaller questions. These

are the basics to cover: •How much money do you make annually?

•What are your current expenses?

•Do you have debt, and if so, how much?

•Do you budget, and if so, how?

•How is your health insurance covered?

•What are you comfortable budgeting every month for rent or a mortgage?

•What do you think will be the

best ways to manage our joint finances?

It all sounds un-romantic but it will be much easier to discuss these issues before money has been allocated and choices made. It's not necessary to sit down with spreadsheets and calculators; make these planning experiences pleasurable.

After discussing round numbers about income and expenses, go out for a nice dinner to celebrate getting your financial ducks in a row. Follow that

2. What is important to you in a home?

"Home" means so much more than the four walls you live within. It also means having a neighborhood, a commute, nearby amenities (or lack thereof), and belongings you regularly use and love.

Before deciding where to live, it is best to have a conversation about each person's "home" preferences, including the items mentioned above.

Don't just assume your partner will be happy moving into your place, or that they'll just want you moving into theirs.

Don't just assume anything.

Where you live is one of the biggest lifestyle decisions you can make. You'll want to be certain you both understand each other's needs and wants

in terms of types of housing, cost, and location.

Where you live directly affects your financial resources.

Long commutes require more gas money and time; the neighborhood and surroundings can determine a home's resale value; property taxes or condo fees will add costs. There are just a few of the issues that need to be considered when moving in together.

3. How will we pay for things?

Paying the bills and splitting expenses can become very contentious issues if they are not planned for in advance. In asking this question, you are really asking how you will keep everything within the household paid for.

There are no right or wrong answers here. Each couple will deal with their joint finances in continued page 20

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20

Love, Health & Travel Before Moving In Together/ continued from page 19 the ways that make the most sense to them. What is important is that everyone shares the same understanding. Know who will be responsible for what bills. Discuss and then get (in writing) some sort of contract for how rent or a mortgage will be paid so that everyone can protect their housing investment in the case of a break-up or other problem.

It is not absolutely necessary to share joint accounts or split everything equally. What is necessary is that both of you talk about your financial habits and goals, and have a plan for dealing with saving and spending money that works for both of you.

4. How are we going to talk about money in the future?

Everything's great when you're just dating and everyone goes home to their own salaries and bank accounts. It's very easy to discuss money when it's all theoretical.

When you move in together, it stops being theoretical, and

it starts being real.

In addition to talking about finances now, make a plan for how you will talk about finances once you are living together. Make a plan to discuss income and expenditures however often is logical and workable for both of you. If you're both independent and plan to keep separate accounts, perhaps looking at some numbers and re-assessing investments could be done every few months. If you want your finances to be more merged, perhaps a weekly or monthly date to discuss what money is coming in and how it is going out is more warranted.

The main point here is not to

plan for having no plan to talk about money matters. You also don't want to be discussing financial issues solely when there is a crisis or even a windfall. Money often takes care of itself best when you have some sort of a long-term plan for its use; making a long-term plan for your communications about money can be similarly helpful.

Making the choice to live with someone you love is an exciting, happy time. Make sure it stays that way by being brave enough to have frequent and honest conversations about money and your combined finances before you take that big commitment step. p

Post-partum Depression/ continued from page 18 and most providers weren’t trained on how to do prevention. Thus, providers will need financial support to enhance the kinds of care they provide.

In a study recently published in JAMA Network Open, Mental Health America (MHA) and its research partners examined one way of helping providers get financial support to pay for prevention. We tested how much Medicaid would pay if it shared with providers half of the savings it expects over five years from preventing postpartum depression. In this scenario, providers would have to show that they reduced the total number of postpartum depression cases. We found that, under the right conditions, a payment approach like this could offer hundreds of dollars per person and add up to quite a lot – enough to provide strong financial support for preventing postpartum depression.

However, a few Medicaid-related issues stand in the way.

First, people frequently change

their insurance coverage, such as switching between Medicaid plans. When people switch, the insurance plan that paid upfront for prevention doesn’t get to enjoy all of the savings. Similarly, not all states have made sure that people can stay consistently covered on Medicaid. These issues make prevention harder to pay for because there is less savings for the Medicaid insurer to share with providers.

As states and the federal government come up with plans to pay for mental health and substance use care in new ways, MHA is working to tackle Medicaid-related matters and make postpartum preventive care part of the future. With our approach, providers could get the financial support they need to provide prevention services, and millions of pregnant individuals in the U.S. would get desperately needed better support.p Nathaniel Z. Counts, J.D., is senior vice president of behavioral health innovation at Mental Health America.

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Conversations

Loading the Gun

BY GREGORY FLOYD

T

he recent shooting of 13 innocent victims in Buffalo demands reflection and reaction, cries out for mourning, and a search for meaning. Although the racist motive seems abundantly clear, the fact that a crazed gunman was on a killing spree in a neighborhood supermarket on an otherwise lazy Saturday afternoon, and that he live-streamed his venomous crime, actually watched by so many, makes the heartlessness and culpability of his actions unfathomably sickening, and not his alone.

As the well-respected civil rights attorney Ben Crump sees it: “Politicians who are trying to use fear to stimulate their base…to help get cable news ratings…[are] accomplices to this mass murder… even though they did not pull the trigger, they loaded the gun.” Yet, there is still more guilt to go around. It seems that it’s not enough to just do

the killing. No, the message here is that a hate-filled rampage like this must also serve to motivate others—to glorify, to justify and to make noble their deranged cause. And as the killer your public demeanor is also very important: show no signs of regret or remorse. Own the moment and hope others will want to adopt the same bloodlust hatred.

New York State has some of the toughest gun laws in the nation, including the controversial “red flag law” enacted in 2019 to prevent persons considered dangerous to themselves and to others as unfit to legally purchase guns. But guns are purchased outside of this state and brought here.

Without stricter national gun laws, and the elimination of various loopholes in existing laws, it will be impossible to control guns; they still will get into the wrong hands.

Although this latest killing spree was done with a legally purchased rifle—an AR-15 known to be used by soldiers

at war, like those currently fighting in Ukraine—the rise in illegal “ghost” guns also presents a huge threat to innocent bystanders.

The number of shootings has nearly doubled in New York City since before the pandemic. Read the headlines: students walking and talking on their way home from school; children watching a video and eating their chicken dinner in the back of their aunt’s car; an infant in a car seat next to her mother while dad stops at a bodega for milk; and a Chinese food delivery man shot because he didn’t bring enough duck sauce. These are among the many innocent people recently killed or injured in our city, their dreams tattered, their families destroyed. Ghost guns were the weapons involved, but they are not the only factor that caused the pain. “Not the intended target” is the usual defense, but even if this is true, the questions remain: why were you carrying a weapon designed to

Editorial credit: Michael Moloney / Shutterstock.com

inflict deadly destruction, not just retribution? And, when you pulled the trigger, did you think about possibly hitting the wrong person? Feel any pain? Have empathy for hitting the wrong person?

A last question should be asked, this directed to our lawmakers, as the essence of Ben Crumb’s position on culpability: did the perpetrator fear the consequences if they were to be apprehended and tried for their actions?

As a legislator, you didn’t instigate the gunman with coded rhetoric or encourage the use of social media as a provocative means of gaining followers. But without enacting laws in which the punishment truly

fits the crime, such as in the case of possessing a ghost gun, that result in mandatory incarceration—even while taking into consideration the perpetrator’s age—guns, whether legally or illegally obtained, will be loaded by accomplices who did something worse than pulling the trigger. They did nothing! p Gregory Floyd is the President, Teamsters Local 237 and Vice President at-large on the General Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

This Op-Ed was published in the New York Amsterdam News on May 19, 2022.

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DSNY Initiatives: The Dignity of a Clean-Living City

Sanitation Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch and José Bayona, Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Ethnic & Community Media at Community/Ethnic Media Roundtable (May 4, 2022) | New York City Department of Sanitation

BY MANUEL HOLGUIN

D

epartment of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch takes the helm of one of the essential departments in New York City.

Appointed by Mayor Eric Adams, Tisch began her work in city government nearly 15 years ago, where her first 12 were at the NYPD. She was first hired as an intelligence analyst, then worked her way

up to being deputy commissioner of IT. She oversaw IT and all the technology at the Police Department, including 911 operations. Before being appointed as Commissioner of DSNY, Tisch was the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) commissioner. She took on the role just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic. Her two-year tenure at the DoITT included vaccinations, contact tracing, providing tablets for New York City school students, installing Wi-Fi in shelters, moving the city’s workforce to remote work, and adapting 311 as a vital point of contact for COVID-19 information.

Hardworking members of the NYC Department of Sanitation team Ethnic Media Roundtable (May 4, 2022) | Photo:PP/IQInc

Just a few weeks into her new role at DSNY, Tisch is rolling out multiple initiatives to try and clean up the city. Never an easy task, especially after a pandemic that caused trash to become a problem while the city was on lockdown.

During the pandemic, many Department of Sanitation workers contracted COVID-19, and some lost their lives. The high rate of workers who contracted the virus led to a high sick leave rate among uniformed employees and missed

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Alternate Side Parking (ASP) Giving New Yorkers a heads up, Tisch announced on her first day that she is reviving Alternate Side Parking (ASP) to pre-pandemic levels, effective July 5. ASP was suspended in March of 2020 by then-Mayor Bill De Blasio to try and keep New Yorkers from leaving their homes during the height of the pandemic. Parts of New York City continued to have ASP once a week, and this is why some would occasionally find citations on their windshields. Restarting ASP will cost the city $11 million. While the street sweeper, which Tisch calls “the most effective clean streets tool that we have in our arsenal,” will keep the streets clean, property owners are responsible for keeping their sidewalks and gutter areas clean. The gutter area extends 18 inches into the street. Funding was also approved for year-round street cleaning on protected bike lanes and other narrow infrastructure.

Containerization It’s hard to believe that storing trash in bags was illegal forty years ago. One wonders what New York City sidewalks would look like without piles of those infamous black bags. Well, DSNY is collaborating with the Department of Transportation to try and make that a reality. Last month, the city’s first containerized waste bins began their pilot stage. These bins were placed in commercial districts to clean up city streets. Hoping to reduce the “convergence of rodents, improve aesthetics, and take back parts of the city streetscape currently overburdened by piles of trash.”

These two and many more projects are set to launch soon. While, in theory, these initiatives sound like they will benefit the city, it’s important to remember that New Yorkers have to do their part; recycle properly, avoid littering, and compost if possible. The DSNY, New York’s Strongest, “do so much more than clean the streets. They do more than make black bags disappear,” said Tisch.

“They are public servants in the truest sense of the word, and they are part of the lifeblood of this city.”p Listen to the Ethnic Media Roundtable at www.workersworldtoday.com

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