Workers' World Today - Issue 42

City Union Leaders Approve

BY CLAUDIA IRIZARRY APONTE THE CITY

Leaders of the city’s public sector unions agreed on Thursday to approve a cost-saving Medicare Advantage retiree health care plan managed by Aetna, a move that is all but certain to face legal challenges by groups representing retired workers.

The Municipal Labor Committee, a consortium of 102 public sector unions, approved the plan by 79%, with 26 unions voting against. The vote opens the door for the

continued on page 4

Simply put: There’s no one more dedicated and qualified to defend the fundamental rights of working people than Julie Su. It’s her life’s work. The AFL-CIO is thrilled with her historic nomination to become our nation’s next secretary of labor.

STEVEN HUBBARD

As Tax Day approaches, it is important to acknowledge the tax contributions made by immigrants—even those who are undocumented. These contributions

Julie Su

Photo: DOL

Public sector retirees gathered outside City Hall on Thursday to protest the Municipal Labor Committee’s vote to approve the Medicare Advantage plan.Claudia Irizarry Aponte/THE CITY

Statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on President Biden’s nomination of Julie Su as U.S. secretary of labor:

Supports Workers’ World Today

Recently, 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

So, What Exactly is ESG and Why is it in the News Right Now?

BY HON BRAD LANDER

Last week, a narrow majority in Congress voted to block a Labor Department rule allowing retirement plan managers to include environmental, social and corporate governance considerations, or “ESG,” in their investment plans.

So, what exactly is ESG and why is it in the news right now?

The New York City Retirement Systems brought shareholder resolutions at a couple of pharmaceutical companies last year because we didn't think they had strong enough rules against insider trading. You could call that the “G” in ESG investing: an investor concerned about a governance issue that poses risks for the company’s long-term value.

For us at the Comptroller’s office, ESG investing means looking at the environmental, social, and governance risks facing companies and integrating risk mitigation into how we build our portfolio and engage with the companies we invest in – all in order to deliver stronger long-term, riskadjusted returns for public sector workers.

Yet in the past year, “ESG” has become a boogeyman for pundits and politicians looking to preserve short term profits for fossil fuel companies at the expense of both pensioners and our planet.

In some ways, this is primarily about short-term versus long-term investing. For the firefighters, cops, and teachers in their 30s working today, we have to make sure their pension fund will be there 50 years from now to keep paying them

pension checks. We aren’t day traders trying to make a quick buck; we have a fiduciary responsibility to maximize stable risk-adjusted returns for the long-term.

As an institutional investor charged with securing returns for pensioners today and decades to come, we keep a close eye on risks facing companies and encourage them to address issues that could impact long-term value.

Take the “S” in ESG. It stands for “social,” but this week it could just as well stand for “Starbucks.” The company’s aggressive anti-union behavior has been all over the news, with a federal judge ordering the company to pay millions to workers for violating their labor rights this week. That’s a reputational – or a “social” –risk to the coffee chain’s brand, one that institutional investors should be concerned about. We filed a shareholder resolution requesting that the company conduct a third-party workers rights assessment to address concerns they are violating not only the law but also their own policies when it comes to workers rights.

Our fiduciary responsibility to the 750,000 public sector

workers and retirees requires taking a broad look at the risks facing our investments, and working to address them. From governance issues like guard rails against insider trading, social issues like preserving a company’s reputation as a friendly employer, to environmental issues like addressing the growing threat of damage to essential infrastructure from climate change-intensified storms, investors can and should be concerned about risks facing the companies they invest in. You could call that “ESG,” or you could simply call it responsible investing. p

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was elected to serve as our city’s budget watchdog and chief accountability officer on November 2nd, 2021. In the City Council, Lander spearheaded efforts to protect workers and build a more equitable economy, working closely with labor advocates to win groundbreaking laws to end unfair firings and establish a fair work week for fast food workers, protect freelancers from wage theft, ban discriminatory credit checks for employment, and guarantee a living wage for app-based drivers and delivery workers.

Linda Nwoke

Victoria Falk

Travis Morales

Mary Campbell

Janet Howard

Chris Tobias

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NYC Comptroller Brad Lander.

Photo courtesy: NYC Comptroller’s Office

Workers’ Matters

Retiree Health Care

continued from page 1 request for comment.

plan to go through a contract process with City Hall before it goes into effect, with an expected Sep. 1 launch.

The plan was heavily pushed by District Council 37 and the United Federation of Teachers, which jointly represent 60% of the city’s workforce. Due to the committee’s weighted vote structure, where each union gets one vote per 250 members, those two unions alone have the clout to sway decisions.

“Aetna’s much-improved Medicare Advantage proposal, with new guarantees about prior authorization of services and enhanced other benefits, has been approved overwhelmingly by the Municipal Labor Committee,” UFT president and Municipal Labor Committee vice-chair Michael Mulgrew said in a statement.

“The plan is designed to provide high-quality, premiumfree health care. We will continue to monitor its implementation to ensure that Aetna meets its obligations to our retirees.”

A spokesperson for DC37 did not immediately respond to a

The controversial, public-private insurance shift stands to save the city an estimated $600 million a year and help pay for current workers’ wages and benefits — but many retirees fear that it could increase their health care costs and make it more difficult to get approvals for procedures.

Fight Looming (Again)

Groups representing the city’s 250,000 municipal-work retirees are already teeing up potential legal challenges. Last year, they successfully sued to block the deal, and a judge barred the city’s offered alternative coverage, under which retirees would have been allowed to keep their existing health plan — if they paid $191 a month.

Amid the uproar, the City Council declined to pick up legislation pressed by Mayor Eric Adams that would have allowed retirees to pay for and keep their current coverage.

The switch to Medicare Advantage had its roots in the labor deals struck by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, which included commitments of bil-

lions of dollars in health care savings to help fund raises and benefits.

On Thursday, dozens of retirees bearing merch from DC37, the UFT and other unions gathered at City Hall to protest the plan, which could increase their health care costs for what they say will be inferior coverage.

“We will keep fighting, and we will never stop until we get the traditional Medicare with our Medigap plan that we have always had, we were promised, we worked for, and that we deserve,” UFT retiree activist Sarah Shapiro said, adding that she expects “ongoing litigation” over the health care switch.

“This fight may take a long time, but we can never stop

until we win,” she said to cheers.

Even current city workers are growing in opposition: Rank and file United Federation of Teachers members are having conversations about launching a “vote no” campaign on a pending tentative contract agreement in protest of the Medicare Advantage switch, according to a source familiar with those talks who spoke under condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, UFT activists are preparing a petition to force a referendum vote on the retiree health care plan, and to make sure that the upcoming health care plan for active city workers that will replace GHI has a premium-free option, said Daniel Alicea, a special education teacher and lead organizer

of Educators of NYC, an opposition group within the union.

In a statement Thursday, Adams said that his administration “heard the concerns of retirees and worked to significantly limit the number of procedures subject to prior authorization under this plan,” adding that it would “communicate” details in the coming days.

“The plan approved by the MLC today improves upon retirees’ current plans, including a lower deductible, a cap on out-of-pocket expenses, and new benefits, like transportation, fitness programs, and wellness incentives,” he said.

“This Medicare Advantage Plan is in the best interests of retirees and taxpayers. We thank the MLC for their steadfast partnership throughout this process.”

It was widely believed that the health care limbo was stalling contract talks for the city’s public sector workers, most of whom are working under collective bargaining agreements that expired in the last two years. p

This story was published on March 9, 2023 by THE CITY.

Mayor Eric Adams Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Planning

Protecting Your Loved Ones and Your Legacy: 9 Reasons to Hire an Estate Planning Attorney

BY PEARL PHILLIP

When it comes to seeking legal advice, experience matters. And specialization is even more critical when it comes to something as important as safeguarding your loved ones, cementing your legacy, and ensuring your wishes are carried out. An estate planning attorney can be a significant help during your life, and here are nine reasons to work with such an attorney.

1. You have been putting off your estate plan. If you have meant to create an estate plan but never get around to it, talking to an an estate planning attorney is the jump start you need. An estate planning attorney can help you with every aspect of estate planning, from the distribution of your assets to assessing future tax liability for your heirs.

2. Your will needs to be updated. Even if you have a will, changes in your life and family may have rendered it dangerously out of date. If you got divorced, for instance, your will may still name your ex-spouse as a beneficiary, a situation you will likely want to address.

3. Your health has been declining. There is nothing wrong with working with an estate planning attorney when you feel fit, but if your health has been declining, you should stop putting it off. Declining health is a great reason to call an estate planning attorney, as prompt action could help you preserve your assets and legacy.

4. You are ready to start claiming Social Security. Signing up for Social Security benefits is not as straightforward. There is much to unpack, from when to begin taking those monthly checks to how the money will impact your tax liability. An estate planning attorney can help you develop the optimum Social Security claiming strategy to maximize your benefits and live a more comfortable life in retirement.

5. You have assets to protect. The protection of assets is another good reason to hire an estate planning attorney. An experienced estate planning attorney can assist you with everything from wills and trusts to estate plans and annuities, helping you protect the assets you have worked so hard for.

6. You want to protect your loved ones. No one wants to think about death and inheritance, but ignoring those unpleasant subjects will not make them disappear. If you want to protect your loved ones, do yourself and them a favor by working with an estate planning attorney.

7. You are concerned about the cost of assisted living. The high cost of assisted living can bankrupt even the wealthiest families, leaving them bereft of the necessary resources.

Even if you are still in good health, talking to an estate planning attorney now is the best way to protect yourself against those ruinous future costs.

8. You need help with probate administration. Going through probate can be complicated, and even minor errors can have major implications. Working with an estate planning attorney during this time is a good idea, as these professionals have the experience and expertise necessary to do it right.

9. You have loved ones with special needs. Protecting family members who lack the resources to care for themselves can be tricky, but working with an estate planning attorney can make it easier. If you have loved ones with special needs, you must talk to an estate planning attorney as soon as possible.

Everyone gets older, and that means everyone could benefit from the services of an an estate planning attorney. Whether you want to protect your assets, safeguard your legacy or avoid the high cost of assisted living and nursing home care, there are good reasons to work with a competent an estate planning attorney.p

Importance of a Living Trust

Most know how critical it is to create a last will and testament when estate pre-planning. Despite its name, however, a will isn’t the final document you need to ensure a smooth transferal of your earthly possessions to the next generation. Here’s a look at how a living trust smooths the way for the proper execution of your will.

How Trusts Work

Without a living trust, you risk sending your surviving family members through a drawn-out legal proceeding known as probate. These hearings first determine whether a will is valid. They then turn their attention to locating and valuing a decedent’s assets. Any outstanding bills and tax debts are paid. Finally, probate hearings make a determination on distributing whatever remains to those who are named in your will. Living trusts streamline the process, proving for a designated family member or friend to manage your property. They can then quickly resolve these end-of-life issues.

Appointing Someone

The very first requirement is finding an executor who you completely trust to handle this important process in your absence. Your executor should also be someone who is mature enough to deal with a very difficult assignment. If you can’t find the right person — or if the intention is to leave out all direct beneficiaries — then you can name a representative from your bank or trust company to handle things.

Setting Them Up

A person who you appoint handles everything that the court would slowly work its way through, transferring ownership to your intended ben-

eficiaries and following any other instructions. Seek out the advice of an attorney who specializes in living trusts and wills, so that you can be assured that everything in these documents is legally binding. What if you change you mind? Living trusts are revocable, as long as you’re deemed mentally competent.

Potential Problems

There is one notable downside. Living trusts are typically far more costly to set up than the average straight-forward will. In the long run, however, that additional cost will be worth it in your absence since your family won’t have to deal with probate. Be aware that some banks and mortgage companies require that any real estate be removed from the trust before refinancing. A pre-planning professional can walk you through the process. Also, be sure to name yourself and spouse as trustees in your living will, so you’ll remain in control of all assets before your death. your finances will be fixed and approved, allowing everyone else to move on with grieving.p

Updating Your Will A

will is your ironclad way to disperse your assets to loved ones as you wish. Here are a few of the top reasons you may need to update this important document.

Change in Marital Status

If you get married after a will is already in place, it’s important to update your beneficiaries to include a spouse. Most states have laws in place where a spouse will receive the estate if you die without a will, but the process can be more difficult and lengthier.

A divorce would be another change in marital status that requires a will to be doctored. You will need to address their status as beneficiary, estate executor and sometimes as guardian to your children.

If you have remarried but have children from a previous marriage, you can also update your document to include the kids and new spouse. A financial advisor is a great resource who can help you create a strategy to leave behind something for everyone.

Health Care Directives

Don’t procrastinate when creating an advance care plan. Age isn’t the only factor that should be considered. A medical crisis that leaves you too ill to make your own decisions could strike at any time.

Emergency Treatment

Without a solid health care directive in place, family members may be tasked with making difficult decisions for your treatment. Here are a few common instances you must have clear and legal instructions regarding, as suggested by the National Institute on Aging:

• CPR: If your heart begins beating with an abnormal rhythm, it can be life threatening. Discuss with your family your opinions about resuscitation so they can determine if CPR should be administered.

• Ventilator: When you are unable to breathe on your own, a ventilator can be used to keep you alive. It usually includes a tube which is connected to your trachea to ensure you’re receiving enough oxygen.

• Comfort Care: Deciding how to keep you comfortable while suffering

is another factor you should have clear instructions for. Consider instances like limiting medical testing, spiritual and emotional counseling, and pain medication.

Types of Facilities

Visit different facilities to make the decision on where you will stay if you become disabled to the point you can’t take care of yourself. It’s important to have a plan for different stages of life. Here are a few to consider:

If you require minimal assistance to live your day-to-day life, an assisted living community is a great option. You have the freedom to reside in

your own space yet receive help in areas like laundry services, prepared meals and personal care.

A nursing home is a better option when you need constant assistance from medical professionals. Here, you can receive 24-hour supervision and help with daily necessities like bathing, grooming and medical management.

In-home care is a great option for someone who wants to stay at home while receiving the same benefits as an assisted-living facility. While it can be expensive to call on medical professionals to come to your home, it is a

very comfortable option for those needing help.

Five Types of Advance Directives in New York State

•A Health Care Proxy lets you appoint a healthcare agent that is, someone you trust to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make decisions for yourself.

•A Living Will allows you to leave written instructions that explain your health care wishes, especially about end-of-life care. You cannot use a Living Will to name a health care agent; you must use a Health Care Proxy.

•A Living Will together with a Health Care Proxy lets you state your health care wishes and name a health care agent.

•A Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR) only lets you express your wish to do without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that is, emergency treatment to restart your heart and lungs if your heartbeat or breathing stops.

•Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) are one way of documenting a patient's treatment preferences concerning life-sustaining treatment. p

Planning for a Disabled Child

Estate pre-planning should be an important part of everyone’s financial regimen, but this process becomes even more important when you have a child with disabilities.

A lot of factors go into creating a uniquely designed plan, depending on their unique personal challenges and whether they are a minor or adult. The goal is to help your specialneeds child continue to lead an enriching, happy life even in your absence.

A Lifetime of Care

The larger goal of special-needs planning is to preserve public aid while also supplementing your child’s care. There are additional benefits to taking care of this right away: If plans are put in place while you’re still alive, the estate avoids probate. Others interested parties, like their grandparents, can contribute to a trust. Named co-trustees can also get hands-on experience in helping with childcare and administering the guardianship. Depending on the child’s capability, this money-management program may be critically important since it will be the only future path to protect-

ing eligibility for benefits. It will provide additional funds for a broader scope of care and create a financial resource should benefits become restricted or end all together.

Special-Needs Trust

Children are at particular risk if they are unable to live independently after the death of a parent of guardian. A special-needs trust can ensure that they are provided with needed resources and care over the course of their lifetime. Parents or guardians

should name the trust as a beneficiary in their will, according to the American Bar Association, instead of the child. Many public-aid options are designed to be resource dependent, meaning recipients aren’t eligible if they have access to a certain amount of money. These trusts allow for an inheritance without endangering aid provided by Medicaid, SSI or other government programs because assets held in trust are not directly available to the child. Funds from life-insurance policies, IRAs and retirement plans can also be directed to the trust, and the child still has access to other programs.

Designating a Caretaker

Beyond the obvious financial considerations, parents and guardians must select a designated caretaker to look after their special-needs child — or to manage their care, if the child is in an assisted-living environment. Work with an attorney who specializes in estate planning in order to create both a trust and this succession plan, since states have differing regulations and laws regarding who may serve as a legal guardian.p

Your Will/continued from page 2

Changes in Financial Situation

There may come a time where you decide to increase or decrease the inheritance you are leaving behind for loved ones.

For instance, if you receive a large sum of money, it’s possible to alter your will to add a new beneficiary or make an increase towards those currently on your list.

On the other hand, if you experience financial misfortune, it’s necessary to adjust the document to pay out less and ensure your estate’s obligations can still be met.

Changes in Tax Laws

It can be hard to stay up-to-date on constantly changing tax laws, but it’s necessary to keep your final document in good legal standing. Especially if your will takes actions to address estate tax issues, it’s a good idea to receive periodic reviews by an attorney.

Ask for Advice

Don’t be afraid to ask your legal expert for advice on other moments that may benefit your last will and testament. Remember, this document is incredibly important to keep accurate as it articulates your vision and solidifies your legacy.p

Buying a Home on a Single Income? 3 Budgeting Tips That Will Make Things Easier

BY EQUITY SMART REALTY INC

Are you thinking about buying that perfect new home?

Whether you're buying for yourself or a new home for a family, there will be many costs involved. Let's take a look at 3 budgeting tips that will help make homeownership on a single income easier.

Get a Full Picture Of Home Ownership Costs

Buying a home is never as simple as paying a mortgage payment each month. So, as with most budgets the first place to start is a full consideration of everything involved.

On top of your mortgage, what other monthly costs will come up? Consider utilities like electricity, phone, cable, water and others. You'll be responsible for property taxes, so find out how much other local owners are paying. If you're buying into a community, you may have to pay monthly fees to a homeowners' association.

When you're visiting open houses

and talking to owners, be sure to get a full picture of their monthly costs. It will help you build a responsible budget.

Keep Your Credit as Strong as Possible

It might sound obvious, but keeping your credit or FICO score spotless is important. Buying a home on a single income means that you'll need a mortgage. Depending on the home you're buying, this might be significant. Your credit score is one of many factors your lender will use to assess you, but it's the most important. So keep those bills paid on time and avoid any black marks on your credit report.

Plan Ahead for Unexpected Budget Shocks

Don't forget to think ahead at events that while unlikely -- may shock your finances. Having one income means that you're one negative health event away from

being out of work. What happens if the incomeearner gets sick, fired or laid off? Is there other work nearby, or would you need to move? Consider the different types of insurance you can get on your mortgage and home. And how much you'll need to put away in a 'rainy day fund' each month.

Guidance

While it might be a bit more of a struggle, it's still possible to buy a home on a single income. For more tips and insight, be sure to contact us at Equity Smart Realty Inc. Our real estate professionals will be able to share how other singleincome families have bought homes in your local market. Call 888-6706791.p

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

Immigration Agencies Violate FOIA, Harming Immigrants and Government Transparency Alike

BY EMILY CREIGHTON

Immigration agencies have a problem with transparency. With an immigration system as complex as ours and Freedom of Information Act offices that are chronically underfunded, it’s no surprise that immigration agencies violate FOIA—a statute created to strengthen our democracy by helping regular citizens understand what the government is up to—by failing to timely provide details about policies and programs to the public. It also is no excuse.

Immigration agencies’ troubles with FOIA have spanned administrations. Sunshine Week offers an opportunity to reflect on the ways immigration agencies can do better.

Our current FOIA system, for instance, isn’t functional. It’s baffling that each year, tens of thousands of immigrants have no alternative but to submit

FOIA requests to obtain their own records. Access to immigration records is necessary to apply for an immigration benefit or defend against deportation.

As a result, the majority of FOIA requests submitted to the Department of Homeland Security are requests for individual immigration records such as immigration files (“AFiles”), biometric information, and documentation of encounters with immigration officials.

The volume of requests submitted to DHS in comparison to other agencies that receive first-person requests is stark. A recent study determined that among 70 agencies that received a significant number of first-person FOIA requests in FY 2020, DHS received 397,671 total FOIA requests, the highest number by far. Though DHS does not report the percentage of its total requests that are first-person requests,

in 2020, 99 percent of the FOIA requests to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) were first-person requests for immigration files. USCIS received approximately half of all DHS requests.

In the case of a deportation proceeding, a lawyer representing the government can easily access records to support a case against an immigrant. But an immigrant navigating our byzantine immigration system to try to defend themselves against

deportation must submit a FOIA for the same records. If the FOIA system worked efficiently, a person might have quick access to these records. But historically, FOIA offices have been unable to meet the demand of individual records requests. As a result, significant FOIA backlogs have developed, and the agencies have failed to respond to FOIA requests within the required 20 to 30 days.

The volume of first-person requests clearly affects the per-

son requesting the records. But it also impacts individuals, journalists, researchers, and advocates who are seeking to understand immigration policies, programs, and trends. When faced with court orders, immigration agencies have devoted resources to address backlogs and delays. Generally, however, when court mandates or other surge approaches are not in place, backlogs inevitably return.

To improve the agencies’ compliance with FOIA and ensure individuals have timely access to their own records, immigration agencies should remove requests for copies of individual immigration files from the FOIA queue. Creating a system for individuals to access all or some portion of their immigration records could appreciably reduce backlogs and delays and improve compliance with FOIA across immigration agencies.

Violate FOIA / continued from page 10

Solutions outside of FOIA are not unprecedented. Recently, with little fanfare, the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review developed a process that allows immigrants’ attorneys to obtain records of immigration court proceedings directly from immigration courts. The process has been imperfect, but it has become clear that with agency commitment, removing records from the FOIA queue is not an impossible task.

The process for first-person FOIA requests is in desperate need of reform. Immigrants face an uphill battle in securing their own records and all FOIA requesters seeking information from DHS have little choice but to rely on the deeply flawed FOIA system. DHS FOIA processing challenges undermine the purpose of FOIA and have resulted in, among other things, FOIA litigation against DHS and a general sense that immigration agencies are not transparent.

Consensus—across parties

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

and stakeholders—on an immigration issue seems inconsistent with the ideological clashes that define our conversation on immigration. We rightly are focused on Republican governors busing and flying migrants to sanctuary cities and on upheaval at the border with the imminent end of Title 42. Yet, a better functioning FOIA system and greater government transparency is necessary to help inform these conversations.

There should be broad bipartisan agreement that removing thousands of records from the FOIA queue to allow immigration agencies to timely provide information to the public benefits us all. The number of firstperson requests to DHS agencies is only increasing and the agencies seem perpetually unprepared to respond. It is simply good government policy to rethink a process that isn’t functioning properly and finally stop shoehorning firstperson requests for information into a FOIA process.p

Read more at www.askthelawyer.us

Taxes / continued from page 1

play a vital role in the funding and sustainability of America’s public services and programs.

Immigrants’ Tax Contributions

Undocumented immigrants make significant contributions to the U.S. tax system by paying sales, income, and property taxes.

In 2021 alone, these households contributed $30.8 billion in total taxes, including $18.6 billion in federal income taxes and $12.2 billion in state and local taxes, based on data from the American Community Survey.

Individual Tax Identification Numbers

At least 50% of undocumented immigrant households file income tax returns using Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs), according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. ITINs are tax processing numbers issued by the Internal Revenue Service, allowing more people to contribute to the tax system and build the tax base.

While undocumented immigrants file taxes using an ITIN, other people may also obtain one, including legal permanent residents, foreign nationals working in the United States, and immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens, among others.

In 2015, 4.4 million ITIN filers paid over $5.5 billion in payroll and Medicare taxes and $23.6 billion in total taxes, according to the IRS.

Tax Benefits

ITIN holders are not eligible for all the tax benefits and public benefits that U.S. citizens

and other taxpayers can receive. For example, they are not eligible for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It’s critical to remember that ITIN holders pay taxes to these and other programs, like Medicare and Medicaid, that Americans use every day.

If an ITIN holder becomes eligible for Social Security in the future (such as by becoming a lawful permanent resident), the earnings reported with an ITIN may count toward their eligibility. However, if they never become eligible, they cannot collect on their contributions.

Many undocumented immigrants have taxes deducted from their paychecks, even if they do not file income tax returns.

It is important to recognize that undocumented immigrants are paying their fair share toward the public good and hope that one day, they too will benefit from their contributions, just like millions of other Americans who file their taxes and fulfill their civic duty. p

Public School Enrollment Dropped By 1.2M During the Pandemic – An Expert Discusses Where the Students Went and Why It Matters

BY THOMAS DEE THE CONVERSATION

Student learning took a big hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just how much is only becoming clear nearly three years after the World Health Organization declared the pandemic and nearly all U.S. public schools pivoted to online instruction for at least several months in March 2020.

However, the data guiding the nation’s efforts to help kids catch up does not generally include the students who experienced the most dramatic learning disruptions.

Nationwide testing results released in the fall of 2022 revealed that the reading and math performance on standardized tests of students who were in fourth and eighth grades in the U.S. in the 20212022 school year declined by historic amounts.

This dramatic evidence of learning loss has mobilized federal, state and local education leaders. The federal government has allocated US$122 billion to support state and local efforts to help students “catch up in the classroom.”

Public school districts are using these resources to fund tutoring and extended learning time. And researchers are assessing the effects of these investments on standardized test scores.

However, these efforts do little to identify or target support to the children whose learning environments were most disrupted by the pandemic. This is especially so for the youngest students, who aren’t yet old enough for most standardized testing.

Enrollment decline and the ‘streetlight effect’

During the pandemic, public school enrollment in grades K

Julie Su /

continued from page 1

From her beginnings protecting immigrants and other vulnerable workers, to fiercely combatting wage theft and the abuse of low-wage workers in California, to her leadership of the U.S. Department of Labor with Secretary Marty Walsh,

through 12 fell by 1.2 million students. These declines were concentrated among kindergarten students and in schools that offered only remote instruction.

Similarly dramatic enrollment losses among even younger learners erased a decade of progress in boosting preschool education enrollment.

These declines indicate that the pandemic caused students to miss instructional time or undertake disruptive school switches, often in their developmentally critical early years.

However, school officials list early-childhood programs among the least popular use of available federal funds and provide no indication of targeted academic-recovery efforts for younger or truant students.

This is an example of what scholars call the “streetlight effect,” in which people focus their attention on easily visible evidence – such as the test scores available for older, currently enrolled students –rather than other relevant data that are more obscured and harder to identify.

And long lags in national data reporting mean little is yet known about the learning environments of the disproportionately young children whose families avoided public schools during the pandemic. Currently, official federal statistics do not even provide basic data on private school or home-school enrollment beyond 2019.

Where the kids

went

My research, done collaboratively with The Associated Press and data journalists at Stanford University’s Big Local News, addresses this issue.

For our analysis, we gathered state-level data on public, private and home-school enroll-

Su has distinguished herself as a principled fighter for the basic rights of every worker, no matter where we’re from or what kind of work we do. At this pivotal moment in history, that’s precisely the leadership America’s working people need in their next secretary of labor.

ment for the school years from 2019-20 through 2021-22. We also used U.S. Census Bureau estimates to identify the school-age population in each state over this time period. These combined data provide insights into where the students who avoided public schools went and what it means for the nation’s academic-recovery efforts.

Complete data aren’t available in every state, but we have good data on more than half of the school-age population in the U.S. at the onset of the pandemic. These states also experienced public school enrollment declines that are representative of the national trend.

Some students, particularly the youngest, clearly turned to private schools during the pandemic. In the 34 jurisdictions with available data, private school enrollment grew by over 140,000 students between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 school years. However, this increase only explains a modest amount – roughly 14% – of the corresponding decline in public school enrollment.

A more surprising finding is the robust growth of homeschooling during this period. An early Census Bureau sur-

We commend President Joe Biden on this hugely important nomination. Biden realizes the challenges working people face, the opportunities before us and the critical need for the kind of deep expertise and creativity Deputy Secretary Su brings to his cabinet. This nomination was driven

New questions for academic recovery

These findings raise several new questions about what help American students will need to get their education back on track. For instance, researchers know little about the learning opportunities available to children who switched to home-schooling, or the effects of this choice on families.

vey reported that homeschooling increased soon after the pandemic began. Our data show this initial increase endured into the 2021-22 school year when most public schools returned to in-person instruction.

In the 22 jurisdictions with data, home-school enrollment increased by over 184,000 students between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 school years – a 30% increase. For every additional student enrolled in private school over this period, nearly two entered home-schooling. This sustained growth in home-schooling explains 26% of the corresponding losses in public school enrollment. Roughly a quarter of the public school enrollment loss simply reflects the pandemic decline in the number of school-age children in the U.S. However, people moving to new homes during the pandemic means this demographic impact varied considerably by state. In states like California and New York, which saw their overall populations fall dramatically, the percentage declines in public school enrollment were at least six times those in states like Texas and Florida, where populations grew.

by the administration’s desire to do everything in its power to strengthen workers’ rights, including the freedom to form and join unions.

Julie Su is the right woman, at the right time, for this job. We thank Secretary Walsh for his service to workers and look forward to Su building on his

Our data is also unable to locate more than one-third of the students who left public schools. That could mean that some children are not going to school at all – or that even more families started homeschooling but did so without notifying their state.

A third possibility is that the pandemic led more families to have their kids skip kindergarten. Our data indirectly supports this conjecture. The unexplained declines in public school enrollment are concentrated in states that do not require kindergarten attendance, like California and Colorado.

What we do know is the pandemic’s learning disruptions occurred disproportionately among the nation’s youngest learners.

Our work to understand and respond to this situation is just beginning. One possible response is to refocus some federal funding on the broad use of early screening tools to reliably identify – and address –learning setbacks years before students are old enough to take the current battery of standardized tests, which often begins in the third grade. Policymakers can also do more to locate students who are missing and to understand the educational needs of those outside the light of conventional data systems. p

Thomas Dee is a Barnett Family Professor, Stanford University

success as secretary of labor.

In 2021, the Senate confirmed Su to serve as deputy secretary by a vote of 50-47. We urge the Senate to swiftly confirm her for this new role so she can continue, without interruption, the vital work of defending our nation’s working people. p

In most schools, standardized tests don’t start until well beyond kindergarten.

Lucy Parsons: Woman of Will

For almost 70 years, Lucy Parsons fought for the rights of the poor and disenfranchised in the face of an increasingly oppressive industrial economic system. Lucy's radical activism challenged the racist and sexist sentiment in a time when even radical Americans believed that a woman's place was in the home.

Early Life

Little is known about the early life of Lucy Parsons. She had an African American, Native American, and Mexican ancestry. She was born in Texas around 1853, during the Civil War Era, and it is likely that her parents were slaves. During her lifetime, in order to disguise her racial origins in a prejudiced society, Lucy went under many surnames. She often went by Lucy Gonzales, denying her African American roots, while claiming her Mexican heritage as the cause of her dark skin tone.

Around 1870, while living with a former slave named Oliver Gathings, Lucy met Albert Parsons, who would soon become her husband. Their marriage, however, was probably not legal, since miscegenation laws (laws forbidding marriage or cohabitation between white people and members of other races) prevented interracial marriages at the time.

In 1872, while the South was instituting repressive Jim Crow segregation laws, Lucy and Albert were forced to leave Texas due to their political involvement. Albert had

worked diligently on registering Black voters and was shot in the leg and threatened with lynching. He and Lucy also felt threatened because of their interracial marriage.

Lucy and Albert arrived in Chicago in 1873, where Albert quickly found a job as a printer for the Chicago Times. This was a difficult time for working people all over the nation, especially in industrial cities like Chicago, because the country had fallen into a depression, leaving millions of people unemployed. The passing of the Contract Labor Law of 1864 allowed American businesses to contract and bring in immigrant laborers. A large, unskilled pool of workers grew in Chicago, which drove wages down. The laboring population, however, was being radicalized by the introduction of socialist and anarchist ideology to the United States.

Inspirations and Actions

In the summer of 1877, one of

the greatest mass strikes in US history took place in response to the depression. Rail workers all over the country joined the picket line to protest wage cuts enacted by the Baltimore Ohio Railroad. In July, the strike moved to Chicago, where rail workers waged a militant battle. They derailed an engine and baggage cars and engaged in sporadic battles with police who attempted to disperse them and break the strike. Albert addressed crowds of up to twenty-five thousand people to promote peaceful ways of negotiating. This helped to bring him into the forefront of the anarchist movement in Chicago.

Because of his involvement in organizing workers, Albert was fired from his job at the Times and blacklisted in the Chicago printing trade. Lucy opened a dress shop to support their family, and, with her friend Lizzie Swank, hosted meetings for the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union (ILGWU). Lucy found

herself juggling her career, as well as her political work, which was becoming more and more involved.

Lucy began to write for many radical publications, including The Socialist and The Alarm, an anarchist weekly published by the International Working People's Association (IWPA), which she and Albert had helped found in 1883. She had little sympathy for bosses who were paying their workers substandard wages. Her most famous article, "To Tramps," advocated "propaganda by the deed," a philosophy that held that only violent direct action or the threat of such action will ultimately win the demands of the workers. She was often considered more "dangerous" than her husband because she was so outspoken in her beliefs on the rights of the poor. Lucy was also threatening as a militant and radical woman who refused to assume the role of a homemaker.p

Read more at archive.iww.org

Lucy Parsons.

Photo courtesy : AFL-CIO

Hundreds of CUNY Faculty and Staff Rally to Demand New Contract, Real Raises

New York, NY: With their union contract set to expire tomorrow, almost 500 of CUNY faculty and staff rallied outside CUNY’s Midtown headquarters this morning to take their demands for a new contract straight to management’s front door. The Professional Staff Congress (PSC) – the union representing 30,000 faculty and staff at CUNY – was joined by students and advocates in calling for a new agreement that includes inflation-beating raises and other advances that help to protect the quality of a CUNY education.

Following decades of public disinvestment and three pandemic years, CUNY colleges are facing staff shortages, noncompetitive salaries, and inadequate working conditions. Just this month, CUNY management ordered a hiring freeze and college “savings

targets” that will mean cuts to academics and student services. Students and advocates joined the rally because a fair contract for PSC members will ensure that CUNY remains New York City’s greatest engine for economic mobility

among low-income students and students of color.

“We are fighting for a ‘Contract for A People’s CUNY’ because a fair contract that supports our faculty and professional staff at CUNY not only benefits our members,

but also improves the lives of the students and the communities that we serve,” said James Davis, President of the Professional Staff Congress.

“The hundreds of faculty, staff, students and advocates who joined in solidarity at today’s

rally sent a clear signal to CUNY management that our whole community stands beside us in demanding a fair contract. We can and will ensure that CUNY provides a high quality education and remains a powerful force for change in New York.”

PSC’s contract fight begins as labor organizing has intensified across New York City. And around the country, higher education unions are asserting themselves at the forefront of labor victories in contract struggles. At the end of last year, 48,000 academic workers across the University of California system went on strike for six weeks and won raises, childcare and more.

And in NYC, adjunct faculty at The New School and Fordham University recently won impressive contracts.

In their last contract, the PSC won unit-wide raises of more than 10% over five years and a

Hundreds of CUNY Faculty and Staff Rally to Demand New Contract, Real Raises Image. Photo courtesy: psc-cuny.org

71% increase in the minimum pay adjuncts receive to teach a 3-credit course.

“New York City’s working families deserve a world-class public university system, but CUNY’s dedicated faculty, adjuncts and professional staff can’t effectively serve our city’s students and communities without better working, teaching, and learning conditions. After years of underinvestment, it’s long past time for these workers to finally achieve meaningful and equitable salary increases, improvements in health and safety protections, increased job security, and all of the other resources needed to carry out their critical mission of providing high quality public education for all. The entire New York City Labor Movement stands with PSC/CUNY’s dedicated faculty, adjuncts, and professional staff in the fight for a fair contract for A People’s CUNY,” said Vincent Alvarez, president of the New York

City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

However, salaries at CUNY lag behind those at many peer institutions. The union is demanding across-the-board raises that exceed inflation for all members, plus additional “equity increases” to lift the salaries of faculty and staff in lower paid titles. The demands also call for pay parity with full-time faculty–equal pay for

equal work—for adjunct faculty, who teach the majority of CUNY courses.

Beyond salaries, the union’s bargaining agenda includes demands:

•That support work-life balance and professional respect, including provisions for remote work, anti-bullying measures, and, for adjunct faculty, compensation for canceled courses and late

paychecks;

•For better benefits, including tuition waivers for the children of faculty and staff, and expanded eligibility for health insurance for adjuncts;

•That advance racial justice and support for the common good, including improving racial diversity in recruiting and retaining faculty, and reducing class size;

•For the protection of academic quality and integrity in online education;

•For stronger health and safety provisions;

•To enhance job security for adjunct faculty and improve their access to full-time appointments; and more.

CUNY graduates contribute

$4.2 billion annually to the state economy and make up about half of all new nurses and one third of all new teachers each year in New York City.

CUNY is funded by both the State and New York City. While the State has begun to reverse its record of underfunding CUNY, Governor Hochul has called for tuition

hikes, and her Executive Budget falls short of CUNY’s needs. Mayor Adams has demanded disruptive cuts to CUNY funding as part of his plan to cut most city agencies. And federal stimulus money that helped offset tuition losses due to pandemic enrollment declines will end this spring.

PSC/CUNY members, CUNY students, community groups and labor allies are also mobilizing to ensure CUNY gets the public funding it needs from Albany and City Hall. They’re working to pass better state and city budgets and to enact the New Deal for CUNY, state legislation that would improve faculty-to-student ratios, professionalize adjunct pay, enhance access to academic advisors and mental health counselors, fix CUNY’s crumbling facilities and eliminate undergraduate tuition. The same broad and growing coalition is behind the union in its efforts toward a fair contract. These two watershed fights will be instrumental in reshaping the future of CUNY.p

Photo courtesy : AFL-CIO

Health Care Workers are Frazzled – and Poor Sleep May Turn Stress into Poor Mental Health

YUAN ZHANG THE CONVERSATION

Health care workers often put the health and safety of their patients first, neglecting to take care of themselves. By providing continuous services around the clock, many experience short and poor-quality sleep, risking not only their own health and safety but also increasing the risk of making errors that can affect patient safety.

I am an occupational health researcher who studies work, sleep and health among health care workers. My research has found that emotional labor –such as using fake smiles to hide true feelings – and workfamily conflict – such as clashing demands between roles at work and at home – are both linked to depressive symp-

toms among health care workers. And poor sleep quality can amplify the effects of these stressors, resulting in worse mental health.

Health care workers face multiple challenges

Shift work and long hours are common components of a health care job. Night or rotating shifts that require being awake during the night and sleeping during the day can misalign the biological clock, which is typically oriented to wake during the day and sleep during the night. This mismatch can result in sleepiness and impaired performance at work, along with poor and shortened sleep during the day.

Moreover, health care workers can face many other work stressors, such as exposure to infectious diseases and chemi-

cal hazards, bullying and violence, high physical workloads and time pressure. These require learning to manage emotions and feelings during interactions with patients and co-workers.

Even so, some professionals in various fields may need to repress their own emotions in order to do their work effectively. In our study of over 1,000 U.S. public sector health care workers who directly and indirectly work with patients, my research team and I found that over half had to mask their feelings at work without addressing them, and increasing levels of emotional labor were linked to increasing symptoms of depression.

In addition, health care workers often experience conflicting demands between their work and family roles. For example, a parent may need to take time off from work to take care of a sick child. Research on U.S. workers has found that workfamily conflict can have adverse physical and mental health effects.

In our study, about half of the health care workers we surveyed reported that their work interfered with their family life, while about 30% experienced family life interfering with work. Importantly, these conflicts were linked to poor mental health such as depression.

Poor sleep and mental health

The U.S. National Health Interview Survey, an annual household interview of adults conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, found that 36% of workers had an average sleep duration of less than seven hours a day in 2018. A minimum of seven hours of sleep is

are regularly working nights. We are also exploring whether such a sleep schedule is acceptable to health care workers and easy enough to integrate into their daily lives.

Workplace is critical to improving sleep

recommended for optimum health and well-being. Sleep deprivation is increased among health care workers, affecting 45% of those surveyed. Our research found an even higher rate: Over half of the health care workers we studied reported fewer than seven hours of sleep per day, and one-third complained of sleep disturbances.

Moreover, we found that one-quarter of these health care workers experienced depressive symptoms, a rate three times higher than the depression prevalence of the general U.S. population.

Sleep plays a critical role in mental health. Short or poor sleep is a strong risk factor for depression and poor mental well-being. And it is well known that stress can interfere with sleep quality. Our study found that disturbed sleep intensified the effect of work stressors such as emotional labor and work-family conflict on the depressive symptoms of health care workers. That is to say, these work stressors may both directly affect health care workers’ mental health and indirectly affect mental health by harming their sleep.

How can health care workers improve their sleep?

The most common nondrugbased recommendations to improve the sleep of shift workers include scheduling, bright light exposure, napping, sleep hygiene education and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Based on those findings, my research team is currently testing the effectiveness of an afternoon-evening sleep schedule in real-world settings for health care workers who

Building a healthy work environment is a critical and meaningful way to improve sleep. A large number of work stressors – such as shift work, work demands, lack of social support, workplace hazards and negative behaviors of co-workers –all contribute to the poor sleep of health care workers.

Evidence-based workplace programs that prevent workplace violence, provide emotional support after difficult incidents and offer flexible scheduling could all help reduce the underlying problems behind poor sleep. Workplaces may consider an integrated approach that both reduces work-related stressors and promotes the sleep and health of their workers. For example, a healthy workplace may allow their employees to select their own work schedules and provide training on sleep hygiene.

Moreover, many sleep promotion programs need the workplace to get involved. Sleep education requires employer support, and light exposure and nap rooms require environmental changes in the workspace. Allowing workers to participate in the decisionmaking process may encourage them to get involved and take action to improve their own health, which could transform sleep and overall health for workers, especially those in the medical field.There is no concrete evidence yet available on the best sleep schedule for health care workers on night or rotating shifts. However, while most night workers begin their daytime sleep shortly after returning home in the morning, laboratory studies on older adults found better night shift alertness and performance and longer sleep duration with an afternoon-evening sleep schedule. p

Yuan Zhang is an Associate Professor of Nursing, UMass Lowell

Health care workers face a number of stressors that can affect their physical and mental health.

7 Benefits of Pre-Nuptial Counseling

BY JENNINE ESTES ESTES THERAPY

When two people decide to get married, they are embarking on a journey of lifelong commitment. While it is exciting to plan for a wedding, it is also important to consider the potential challenges that may arise in the years ahead. Prenuptial counseling can be an important tool for helping couples prepare for a healthy and successful marriage.

Pre-nuptial counseling can allow couples to discuss important topics, such as finances, family dynamics, and communication styles. It can also help couples identify potential problem areas and create strategies for addressing them if they arise. By addressing these topics before the wedding day, couples can create a stronger foundation for their relationship.

If you’re in a committed relationship and planning to get married in the near (or distant)

future, pre-nuptial counseling can be a great way to start your marriage off on the right foot. Here are a few key benefits to pre-nuptial counseling you’ll want to keep in mind as you plan the big day!

Establish a healthy foundation for the marriage

Pre-nuptial counseling provides a unique opportunity for couples to establish a healthy foundation for their marriage. It allows couples to discuss their expectations, communication styles, and future goals. The counselor can help couples identify any potential areas of conflict and address them before the marriage begins. Pre-nuptial counseling can also help couples learn how to compromise, handle disagreements, and work together to build a strong and lasting relationship.

Address potential issues before they become major problems

If you’re in a relationship, you

know your weak points as a couple. Maybe you even have certain topics you tend to argue about more than others. Tackling these issues head-on before they become major problems can save your relationship and make you stronger as a couple in the long run. Having a trained counselor walk you through these issues is advised for the best possible outcome!

Discuss expectations and roles in the marriage

Unmet expectations tend to lead to dissatisfaction in relationships, so discussing expectations before marriage is important. This can be incredibly beneficial for couples about to get married, as it allows them to build a strong foundation for their marriage, and ensure that both parties are on the same page. During pre-

nuptial counseling, couples can discuss financial expectations, family roles, communication, and other important topics.

This can help them develop a plan for handling certain situations and ensure that both parties understand each other’s needs and expectations. Pre-nuptial counseling can also help couples to identify potential issues that may arise during the marriage and develop strategies to address them.

Provide tools to deal effectively with disagreements

Pre-nuptial counseling allows couples to have an objective third party to discuss and help them prepare for any potential disagreements that may arise in the future. This type of counseling helps couples learn techniques for effective communication and create a plan for resolving disputes. Through discussion and setting clear expectations, precontinued on page 19

Pre-Nuptial Counseling/ continued from page 18

nuptial counseling gives couples the tools to handle disagreements, which helps to foster a healthy and strong relationship effectively.

Help couples develop effective communication skills

Pre-nuptial counseling can be an invaluable tool for couples who wish to develop effective communication skills before they get married. Counseling can help each partner identify their communication styles, strengths, and any areas of difficulty. Couples can learn how to better express their needs, understand one another’s perspectives, and listen effectively. Couples can also learn to set boundaries and resolve conflicts healthily through counseling. Pre-nuptial counseling can help couples to develop healthy communication habits that will serve them throughout their marriage.

Enhance understanding and respect for each other

Pre-nuptial counseling can be

a great way for couples to enhance understanding and respect for each other before they get married. This counseling gives couples an opportunity to discuss concerns, expectations, and values in a safe and supportive environment. By exploring these issues, couples can better understand each other and develop strategies to deal with potential issues before they arise. Pre-nuptial counseling also allows couples to explore their relationship in a deeper and more meaningful way, which can help them nurture and develop a greater respect for each other.

Build confidence in the marriage and the couple’s ability to work together

Even if you have the happiest relationship, you can still benefit from pre-nuptial counseling. Couples who take advantage of the professional help available to them tend to thrive even more than couples who don’t, and they have more confidence in the relationship when it’s time to walk down the aisle. While you can discuss your weaknesses and issues in pre-nuptial counseling, you’ll also find your strengths as a couple and learn to use them to your advantage. Learning to

work together as a team is the best thing you can do for your partner and your future marriage.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, pre-nuptial counseling is a valuable tool for couples preparing to get married. It helps couples identify and address potential issues before they become major problems and can provide them with the tools they need to build a strong, healthy relationship. Pre-nuptial counseling can be helpful in any stage of a relationship, whether it is just beginning, in the middle, or near the end.

At Estes Therapy, we are passionate about strengthening relationships and helping couples build a strong foundation for their marriage. We understand that marriage is a serious commitment and that it takes work to ensure it is successful. Our therapists provide couples with a safe, non-judgmental space to discuss any issues they may have. We believe that pre-nuptial counseling allows couples to have

open, honest conversations about their relationship and identify potential areas of concern. We strive to empower couples to build a solid foundation for their marriage and to ensure that their relationship is healthy and happy.

We offer a variety of pre-nuptial counseling services, including individual and couples counseling. Our counselors are experienced and compassionate, and we work with couples to develop strategies that will help them navigate their relationships and prepare for a successful marriage. Reach out today to get started! We’re looking forward to working with you.p

Jennine Estes

Think of me as your relationship consultant, I'm your neutral third party that can help you untangle the emotions and help you figure out what's really going on. I am a Marriage and Family Therapist in San Diego, CA.

Reprinted with kind permission

855-768-8845

Here’s the Real Reason to Turn on Aeroplane Mode When You Fly

the aeroplane, right? Well, it depends whom you ask.

We all know the routine by heart: “Please ensure your seats are in the upright position, tray tables stowed, window shades are up, laptops are stored in the overhead bins and electronic devices are set to flight mode”.

Now, the first four are reasonable, right? Window shades need to be up so we can see if there’s an emergency, such as fire. Tray tables need to be stowed and seats upright so we can get out of the row quickly. Laptops can become projectiles in an emergency, as the seat back pockets are not strong enough to contain them.

And mobile phones need to

Technology has advanced a great deal

Aviation navigation and communication relies on radio services, which have been coordinated to minimise interference since the 1920s.

The digital technology currently in use is much more advanced than some of the older analogue technologies we used even 60 years ago. Research has shown personal electronic devices can emit a signal within the same frequency band as the aircraft’s communications and navigation systems, creating what is known as electromagnetic interference.

But in 1992, the US Federal Aviation Authority and Boe-

ference and found no issues with computers or other personal electronic devices during non-critical phases of flight. (Take-offs and landings are considered the critical phases.)

The US Federal Communications Commission also began to create reserved frequency bandwidths for different uses – such as mobile phones and

Governments around the globe developed the same strategies and policies to prevent interference problems with aviation. In the EU, electronic devices have been allowed to stay on since 2014.

2.2 billion passengers

Why then, with these global standards in place, has the aviation industry continued to ban the use of mobile phones? One of the problems lies with something you may not expect – ground interference.

Wireless networks are connected by a series of towers; the networks could become overloaded if passengers flying over these ground networks are all using their phones. The number of passengers that flew in 2021 was over 2.2 billion, and that’s half of what the 2019 passenger numbers were. The wireless companies might have a point here.

Of course, when it comes to mobile networks, the biggest change in recent years is the move to a new standard. Current 5G wireless networks –desirable for their higher speed data transfer – have caused concern for many within the aviation industry.

Radio frequency bandwidth is limited, yet we are still trying to add more new devices to it. The aviation industry points out that the 5G wireless network bandwidth spectrum is remarkably close to the reserved aviation bandwidth spectrum, which may cause interference with navigation systems near airports that assist with landing the aircraft.

Airport operators in Australia and the US have voiced aviation safety concerns linked to 5G rollout, however it appears to have rolled out without such problems in the European Union. Either way, it is prudent to limit mobile

phone use on planes while issues around 5G are sorted out.

Ultimately, we can’t forget air rage

Most airlines now provide customers with Wi-Fi services that are either pay-as-you-go or free. With new Wi-Fi technologies, passengers could theoretically use their mobile phones to make video calls with friends or clients in-flight.

On a recent flight, I spoke with a cabin attendant and asked her opinion on phone use during flights. It would be an inconvenience for cabin crew to wait for passengers to finish their call to ask them if they would like any drinks or something to eat, she stated. On an airliner with 200+ passengers, in-flight service would take longer to complete if everyone was making phone calls.

For me, the problem with inflight use of phones is more about the social experience of having 200+ people on a plane, and all potentially talking at once. In a time when disruptive passenger behaviour, including “air rage”, is increasingly frequent, phone use in flight might be another trigger that changes the whole flight experience.

Disruptive behaviours take on various forms, from noncompliance to safety requirements such as not wearing seat belts, verbal altercations with fellow passengers and cabin crew, to physical altercations with passengers and cabin crews – typically identified as air rage.

In conclusion – in-flight use of phones does not currently impair the aircraft’s ability to operate. But cabin crews may prefer not to be delayed in providing in-flight service to all of the passengers – it’s a lot of people to serve.

However, 5G technology is encroaching on the radio bandwidth of aircraft navigation systems; we’ll need more research to answer the 5G question regarding interference with aircraft navigation during landings. Remember that when we are discussing the two most critical phases of flight, take-offs are optional –but landings are mandatory.p

Doug Drury is Professor/Head of Aviation, CQUniversity Australia

Start Your Own Travel Online Business

BY VICTORIA FALK

What if you could take great vacations for free or at highly reduced rates? What if you could write off most of your travel-related expenses on your taxes? You could if you owned an online, home-based travel business. There are many perks and benefits of owning an online, home-based travel business, including being your own boss, working online from anywhere, making your own schedule, and getting paid to do what you love.

One of the wealthiest men in the world, Warren Buffet, says, “What you like to do, make that your hobby. But what the world likes to do, make that your business.” Events like the recent New York Travel and Adventure Show remind us how much the world loves to travel. Before the global pandemic, travel was an $8.3 trillion industry. Based on recent

industry studies, travel is a $9.6 trillion industry. How much of that money do you need to be happy? If you’re traveling anyway, consider learning how to turn your passion for travel into profits.

While the income-earning potential with an online, homebased travel business is incredible, many business owners didn’t get into business based on the money. Many were wooed into the travel industry because of their desire to travel more and access the perks and travel benefits of the industry.

For others, it’s the time free-

Take Action: Ask Your Legislators to Raise and Index the Minimum Wage

dom, financial freedom, and the fantastic lifestyle they’re able to create.

While many others already own businesses, they were able to wrap the online, home-based travel business around what they’re already doing to enhance their offerings.

Are you ready? Now is the perfect time to start an online, home-based travel business. Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. Training and support are provided. Register today for the next Start Your Online Travel Business at starttravelbiz.eventbrite.comp

New York has always been a leader in promoting and protecting the livelihood and well-being of working people, but right now we are failing to live up to that proud tradition. Working people are struggling with high inflation every day, particularly lower-wage workers, who are hit the hardest. The need for action has never been more urgent; workers quite literally can’t afford to wait for a

raise.

Legislation has been introduced in the state Senate and Assembly, S1978A (Ramos)/A2204A (Joyner), that would raise and index the minimum wage to inflation. The legislation would help New York break the cycle of infrequent increases that lead to insufficient minimum wage. Add your name to urge your state legislators to support S1978A/A2204A! p

Children & Car Accidents: Reducing the Risks!

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

According to statistics, car accidents are among the leading cause of deaths among children in the USA. About 45% of deaths among children are because of car accidents. What can you do if there is a car accident involving your child? During this difficult time, you need a strong advocate on your side like the attorneys at the Personal Injury Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates.

How can we deal with the greater risks that children face when it comes to car accidents? Child victims in car accidents can be placed in two categories. There are those who are passengers and there are those who are pedestrians. It is important to realize that a lack of precautionary measures has been the main reason for child victims of car acci-

dents in both scenarios. Children need keen supervision whenever they are walking along the road, crossing a road or in any other situation where they are interacting with traffic. Further, they need to be looked after when in transit aboard a vehicle and the necessary precautions

taken so as to ensure they remain safe under any circumstances.

For child pedestrians the following measures can help reduce the risk of accidents among children:

1.Close supervision of children at all times when near a

road.

2.Training of children in road safety and teaching them safe road use.

3.Educating drivers and other road users on “Child safe road use.”

Reducing the risk to child passengers can be done by taking the following steps:

1.Always ensure that the child is safely secured in the vehicle.

2.Discourage risky activities and play while on board a car.

3.Avoid any showmanship and road rage as you drive because this will set a poor example for the children in your vehicle.

4.Train the children on safety

while on board a vehicle. While these measures will not eliminate child victims of car accidents, they will greatly reduce the risk children face while traveling along the roads or when in a car.

What Can You Do?

A personal injury attorney specializes in helping victims obtain settlements by providing legal assistance and advice after a car crash.

The attorneys at the Personal Injury Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates possess a wide range of experience and the expertise needed to advocate for children who have been in car accidents. No settlement, no fee. The lawyer you hire does make a difference. Know and understand your rights! Ask the Lawyer, call 855-768-8845 or schedule an appointment at www.askthelawyer.us p