Worker's World Today - Issue 54

BY JANET HOWARD WWT EXCLUSIVE

As Maya Angelou eloquently said, "Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women." March, the month of Women's History, is a significant time when the nation unites to honor and celebrate the remarkable achievements of women in American history. This celebration, which includes conferences, workshops,

continued on page 4

The national AFL-CIO recently hosted the firstever AFL-CIO lobby day exclusively centered on women’s issues in the workforce and beyond. Union organizers, AFL-CIO state and local leaders including CLC Secretary-Treasurer and UFT VP for Academic High Schools Janella Hinds came together for a jam-packed day featuring roundtables with the Labor and Democratic Women’s Caucus, labor and trade leaders in the White House, as well as meetings with Senators from across the country. The labor movement is the largest organization of working women in America, who are not letting anyone tell them the issues they fight for — equal pay, child care, reproductive rights — are just ‘side issues.’ These are core protections everyone should have, plus the power of a union.p

BY ANNA SHEPPERSON, IMMIGRATIONIMPACT

Since its conception in 1977, International Women’s Day has evolved into a global celebration highlighting women’s achievements and the challenges they face.

continued on page 11

NYC Food Delivery Workers’ Rights

If you do restaurant deliveries for an app, you have rights regardless of your immigration status.

Your Rights

Free insulated food delivery bag after 6 deliveries

Apps must give you a bag. You can decide whether to use it.

More control over your deliveries

• You can limit how far you will go from restaurants and pick which bridges or tunnels you will use.

• Apps cannot offer you trips outside the limits you set, and you have the right to change your limits.

Advance notice of delivery details

Apps must tell you the pickup address, estimated time and distance for trip, tip, and pay before you accept a trip.

Better access to restaurant bathrooms when you pick up orders Exceptions apply. Contact DCWP.

More information about your pay

Apps that take customer orders directly must tell you how much the customer tips for each delivery and your total pay and tips for the previous day. Exceptions apply. Contact DCWP.

Payment at least once a week

Apps cannot charge a fee to process your payment.

Minimum pay rate (Effective 1/1/2023)

New York City will set a minimum pay rate and may update it from time to time.

No Retaliation

It is illegal to punish or deactivate workers for exercising their rights. Workers should immediately contact DCWP about retaliation.

File a Complaint

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) enforces the law. For more information or to file a complaint:

• Visit nyc.gov/DeliveryApps

• Email OLPS@dcwp.nyc.gov

• Call 311 (212-NEW-YORK outside NYC) and ask for “Delivery Worker”

DCWP will not share your identity without your prior consent.

You can also file a case in court. However, you cannot have a complaint with DCWP and a claim in court at the same time.

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

Why ‘Rental Assistance Is Crucial’ to Make NYC Housing Affordable

BY URBAN MATTERS

Urban Matters: For decades, New York City’s housing strategy has relied on incentivizing private developers to include affordable units in their projects. Governor Kathy Hochul intends to push for renewing a property tax incentive along these lines. Some housing advocates and legislators advocate a “social housing” alternative to produce or preserve publicly owned housing. Do we need either? Both?

Alex Schwartz: They are not mutually exclusive. Rental housing construction has stalled since the expiration of 421-a [actually, “Affordable Housing New York,” the State’s successor to the previously expired 421-a property tax exemption for developing multiple-dwelling buildings on under-used land in New York City, including some designated as affordable apartments]. The proposal by some State Assembly members for a social housing program could, depending on appropriations, yield a significant amount of affordable housing, but it’s unlikely by itself to reach the necessary scale.

A critical problem is that property taxes for rental housing in the current property tax system are untenable for anything other than luxury housing. Either the property tax system must be reformed – a gigantic and fraught undertaking – or rental housing will require some kind of property tax exemption, with the requirement that a substantial share of the units is made affordable to low-Income house-

holds.

As for the proposed social housing program: As I understand it, the State would pay for the construction of affordable housing to be owned and operated either by government, nonprofit agencies, community land trusts, limited-equity coops, and the like. Removing the profit motive from affordable housing production may bring costs down. However, it’s important to recognize that the rents that very low-income households can afford will likely be too low to cover the basic operating costs of the housingproduced by this new program in the absence of rental subsidies.

The program would support mixed-income housing, with a small share of the units designated for very low-income households, as is already the case in several existing City programs. But the number who would benefit would be quite small.

UM: The City Council has decided to join a suit against Mayor Eric Adams over his refusal to fund an expansion of low-income housing vouchers that the Council recently approved, over the mayor’s veto. It’s certainly an attention-grabbing standoff. But let’s put this in perspective. In the past, you’ve written about the really heavy lift using rental subsidies to relieve the city’s housing crunch would take, haven’t you?

Schwartz: The City is currently budgeting almost $800 million on its own voucher program [FHEPS, or the Family Homelessness and Eviction Protection Supplement]. That’s vastly more than any other city spends on rental subsidies. In my view, vouchers or some other type of rent subsidy, are essential for preventing families and individuals from becoming homeless. It seems to me that it would be less expensive, and certainly less traumatic, to help people remain in their homes with rental assistance than holding off on that assistance until they have been evicted and entered a homeless shelter.

The problem is that the need for rental assistance is vast. Back in 2019 I estimated that it would cost at least $3 billion to provide every impoverished rent-burdened New Yorker with a voucher, an amount that would exceed the budget of many City agencies. That said, broadening the FHEPS program to include households at risk of eviction would probably be less costly than restricting it to people who have already become homeless and entered the shelter system.

UM: So, final question. For the last two weeks we’ve been dissecting housing problems afflicting New Yorkers. But is there any good news out there concerning the city’s housing crunch?

Schwartz: The problems have worsened, but at least the public has become more aware of the city’s and nation’s housing challenges. There seems to be more recognition of the hous-

ing issue and perhaps more political will to address it. For example, support seems to be growing for land use and other policies that would allow for the construction of more housing and less expensive types of housing.

What is not yet adequately understood is the fact that people in poverty simply cannot afford the basic cost of operating a housing unit. If rents only covered insurance, taxes, utilities, management, repairs, and other essential costs, and generated zero profit for the owner, they would still be unaffordable. For example, the average operating and maintenance cost for a rent-stabilized apartment built before 1974 is $1059, and more than $1200 for units in newer buildings. This is why rental assistance is crucial.p

Alex Schwartz is a professor at the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment at The New School, and chairs the Milano School’s Master’s Program in Public and Urban Policy. He is the author of Housing Policy in the United States, now in its fourth edition.

Women’s Integral Role/ continued from page 1

special television programs, awards, brunches, and more, is not just a mere observance but a powerful reminder of the integral role of women in shaping our society, particularly in the labor movement and unions. It's a moment to acknowledge and immortalize women's struggles, wisdom, and distinctive viewpoints.

Women in New York's Labor Movement

The labor movement is a testament to the collective power of workers striving for fair treatment, just wages, and improved working conditions. Women have played a pivotal yet often overlooked role within this movement, contributing significantly to advancing labor rights and establishing unions.

New York City, with its bustling industries and diverse workforce, became a focal point for labor activism, and women played a prominent role in shaping its labor landscape. Clara Lemlich, a Ukrainian immigrant and garment worker, emerged as a fearless leader during the 1909 strike known as the "Uprising of the 20,000." Her impassioned speech at a union meeting catalyzed the strike and inspired thousands of women to join the fight for better pay and working conditions.

Similarly, Rose Schneiderman, another influential figure in New York's labor movement, championed the cause of women workers and advocated for labor reforms. As the first woman to serve on the New York State Department of Labor, Schneiderman tirelessly campaigned for minimum wage laws, workplace safety regulations, and the protection of women's rights in the workforce. Her achievements are a testament to the power of women's leadership and ability to effect change.

Historical

Context

In the early days of the labor movement, women faced numerous challenges, including low wages, long hours, and discriminatory practices. Despite these obstacles, they courageously organized and advocated for change. One notable example is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, where predominantly immigrant women workers tragically lost their lives due to unsafe working conditions. This event galvanized public support for labor reform and

highlighted the need for more assertive union representation.

Expanding Horizons

Beyond the garment industry, women in New York made significant contributions to various sectors of the labor movement. In the early 20th century, female telephone operators organized strikes and formed unions to demand better treatment and job security, marking a significant milestone in their fight for labor rights. Similarly, women in the hospitality industry, including hotel and restaurant workers, fought for fair wages and improved working conditions through collective bargaining and unionization efforts, demonstrating their active participation in the labor movement.

Contemporary Perspectives

While significant strides have been made in advancing women's rights in the labor movement, challenges persist. Women continue to face wage disparities, workplace discrimination, and barriers to leadership roles within unions. However, grassroots organizations and advocacy groups in New York, such as the Women's Trade Union League and the New York Women's Foundation, are working tirelessly to address these issues and empower women in the workforce. Their efforts give us hope for a more equitable future.

Black Women in the Movement

Black women have played significant roles in the labor movement in New York City throughout history. Their contributions have been pivotal in fighting for workers' rights, fair wages, and better working conditions. Here are some key points highlighting their involvement:

Early Activism: Black women, demonstrating remarkable resilience, have been at the forefront of labor activism in New

York City since the late 19th century. Often found in lowwage jobs such as domestic service, garment work, and laundresses, they bore the brunt of exploitation and discrimination in these industries, yet their spirit remained unbroken.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, one of the deadliest industrial disasters in U.S. history, highlighted the unsafe working conditions in garment factories. Black women were among the victims of this tragedy, which galvanized the labor movement and led to significant reforms in workplace safety.

Union Organizing: Black women played crucial roles in union organizing efforts in various industries, including garment, domestic work, healthcare, and education. They formed unions, organized strikes, and advocated for better wages and working conditions.

Civil Rights Movement: Many black women actively in the civil rights movement also supported labor rights causes. Figures like Ella Baker and Pauli Murray were instrumental in both movements, recognizing the intersections of race, class, and gender in the struggle for justice.

Intersectional Activism: Black women in the labor movement often faced discrimination based on their gender and race. They advocated for an intersectional approach to activism, addressing the unique challenges faced by black women workers and fighting against sexism and racism within the labor movement.

Political Leadership: Over the years, Black women have ascended to prominent positions within labor unions and advocacy organizations in New York City through their trans-

also engaged in labor activism. She organized protests and advocated for economic empowerment for black communities in New York and elsewhere.

Lillian Roberts: As the executive director of District Council 37, New York City's largest public employee union, Lillian Roberts played a significant role in labor organizing. She fought for municipal workers' rights, including many black women employed in public sector jobs.

formative leadership. Their strategic decision-making has been instrumental in shaping labor policies, negotiating contracts, and representing the interests of workers.

Continued Advocacy: Today, black women, with their unwavering commitment, continue to lead the charge in labor activism in New York City. They tirelessly advocate for living wages, healthcare benefits, and workplace protections for all workers, particularly those in marginalized communities, offering a beacon of hope for a fairer future.

Here are some notable black women who have made significant contributions to the labor movement in New York:

Ella Baker: Although more commonly associated with civil rights activism, she also played a crucial role in labor organizing. She worked with the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), advocating for workers' rights and economic justice.

Pauli Murray: An influential civil rights and women's rights activist, Pauli Murray also worked on labor issues. She cofounded the National Organization for Women (NOW). She served on the President's Commission on the Status of Women, advocating for equal pay and workplace rights for women, including black women.

Audre Lorde: While primarily known as a poet and activist for racial and LGBTQ+ justice, Audre Lorde also addressed labor issues in her work. Her writings often explored the intersections of race, gender, and class, highlighting the experiences of black women workers.

Gloria Richardson: A prominent leader in the civil rights movement, Gloria Richardson

Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez: A nurse and labor leader, Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez has actively advocated for healthcare workers' rights in New York City. She served as the president of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and has been a vocal advocate for safe staffing levels and better working conditions for nurses, many of whom are black women.

Bertha Lewis: While she's primarily known for her community organizing and housing advocacy work, Bertha Lewis has also been involved in labor issues. As the former CEO of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), she worked on campaigns for living wages and workers' rights.

These are just a few examples of black women who have contributed significantly to the labor movement in New York City. Many more, whose names may not be as widely recognized but whose activism and leadership have been equally impactful, exist.

Immense Contributions

Overall, the contributions of black women to the labor movement in New York City have been immense, shaping the trajectory of labor rights and social justice in the region. Their activism and leadership continue to inspire future generations of workers and activists.

Women's contributions to the labor movement and unions in New York are undeniable and far-reaching. From the sweatshops of the early 20th century to the contemporary struggles for gender equity, women have been at the forefront of labor activism, fighting for dignity, respect, and economic justice. As we reflect on their legacy during Women's History Month and beyond, let us honor their resilience, courage, and unwavering commitment to social change. p

SIUH Nurses Vote to Strike

Staten Island, N.Y.: On Wednesday, March 13, Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH)/ Northwell) nurses held a speak-out in front of their hospital and announced that they authorized their executive committee to call a strike if management fails to bargain a fair contract that protects care for Staten Island patients. Nurses voted in favor of strike authorization by over 97 percent. The 1,300 nurses at SIUH are represented by the New York State Nurses Association.

Nurses say that they want to stay in Staten Island to care for their community, but many are forced to seek work off the island because of below-market pay at SIUH and frequent understaffing that makes it impossible to provide the level of care their patients deserve.

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said, “Nurses shouldn’t be living paycheck to paycheck while keeping Staten Island safe and

healthy. And Northwell shouldn’t be making cuts that make their jobs even harder while spending big on corporate expansions and fancy ad campaigns. Nurses on Staten Island deserve a fair contract with respectful raises and safe staffing. Northwell needs to do better by their nurses.

”The average base pay for nurses at SIUH-Northwell is now $11,573 below the base pay at similar New York City hospitals. Northwell recently announced a $19.2 billion merger with Nuvance Health but eliminated pharmacists on the hospital floors of SIUH, forcing nurses away from patient bedsides for sometimes an hour or more to seek out urgently needed medications.

SIUH-Northwell nurse, Adriana DeLeon, RN, said, “Northwell has the money to settle a fair contract. We see how much money they spend on advertising, on corporate mergers, on making their buildings look nice. How can

they invest in all that without investing in the very people that make this hospital work? During my short time here, I've seen so many nurses leave because we are often so understaffed that it feels like we’re working while on fire. I’ve only been here for two years, but I’m already considered a ‘seasoned’ nurse on my unit because turnover is so high. I want to go home at the end of the day and believe that I did the best that I could for my patients, but it’s hard when we’re expected to be in more than one place at a time.”

SIUH-Northwell nurse, Shayna Lehrer, RN, said, “I live on Staten Island. I was born here. This is my community. I don’t want to have to leave the island for work. But in the short time I’ve been a nurse, I’ve seen our morale driven to the ground and I’ve seen nurses like me burn out and leave. After just 1.5 years, I am one of the most senior nurses in my unit. Instead of

making changes to support and retain its nurses, Northwell continues to ask us to do more with less. We’re not only asked to do our jobs, we’re also asked to be patient care assistants, pharmacists, and housekeepers, because we don’t have enough staff. We barely even have time to use the bathroom during our shift and it’s not sustainable.”

“The entire New York City labor movement stands with our NYSNA nurses at Staten Island University Hospital, who are demanding a fair contract with safe staffing,” said New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO President Vincent Alvarez. “The actions of Northwell executives have resulted in understaffing that is actively undermining quality of patient care and threatening public health because trained, experienced nurses from the community cannot afford to stay and are being forced to go to other boroughs. It’s time for Northwell

to fix what they’ve broken. The NYCCLC is proud to support SIUH’s nurses as they fight for the resources they need to provide safe, quality healthcare to working families on Staten Island.

The strike authorization vote comes on the heels of overwhelming strike votes at other NYSNA-represented facilities, including most recently Northwell Long Island Jewish Valley Stream, Peconic Bay Medical Center, and North Shore University Hospital on Long Island. Those Northwell hospitals settled fair contracts with NYSNA nurses and averted strikes. Approximately a year ago, 7,000 NYSNA nurses at two New York City hospitals went on strike before reaching historic contract agreements. The Northwell-SIUH contract expires on March 31.p

A livestream of the event can be found on NYSNA's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nynurses.

It’s Time to Fix New York’s Paid Medical Leave Program

BY SHERRY LEIWANT URBAN MATTERS

Every person will need to take time off work at some point to deal with a medical need. But currently, New Yorkers are just one cancer diagnosis, car accident, or difficult pregnancy away from losing their job, health insurance, and financial security.

New York’s paid medical leave benefit (it’s known as “temporary disability insurance” or “TDI”) is what workers rely on when serious health issues arise. But shockingly, $170 per week is the maximum they can receive. This amount has not been raised since 1989.

This puts New York’s TDI benefit wildly behind other states, nearly all of which allow workers to earn over $1,000 per week. It’s also outrageously unequal to New York’s paid family leave benefit (PFL), which offers workers

up to $1,151 per week to care for a seriously ill loved one or to bond with a new child. As now constituted, TDI also provides beneficiaries no job protection.

To put it simply: In New York, if your father breaks his leg and you need to care for him, you can receive $1,151 per week and will have full job protection. But if you break your leg and need to be out of work, you will receive only $170 per week and have no job protection.

Today, 35 years after its inception, it’s finally time to update and modernize TDI.

A Better Balance, an organization I helped found and now co-lead, worked to create and pass New York’s PFL program in 2016. Now we need a decent paid medical leave benefit too. No one should be forced to risk their job and financial security as they navigate personal health crises like cancer, pregnancy complications, long Covid, or a car accident, or as they seek mental health or sub-

stance abuse treatment.

At our organization’s legal hotline, we hear frequently from workers who are upset and frustrated by the lack of a real medical leave program in our state.

Ruth, a janitor on Long Island who needed time off to recover from childbirth, told us she could not live on $170 a week, and added, “I consider it unfair when you work hard and pay your taxes only to be told that there is little to nothing available to help you through a significant life event.”

Delia, a domestic worker recovering from surgery, was distressed to learn that the most she could receive was $170 a week, not enough to pay her rent or other bills, especially when she was fired by her employer due to her illness – something a reformed TDI ought to prohibit.

Michelle, a worker struggling

with long Covid complications, told us, “I was shocked that New York’s disability benefits are so low. How do you survive on these minimal amounts?”

Other callers have been forced to forego much-needed medical treatment and recovery because it is simply impossible to pay rent and bills and buy groceries on TDI.

Fixing these problems should be an easy matter. New York’s groundbreaking 2016 PFL law was actually based on a what was then a decades-old TDI program. But unfortunately, TDI itself was left untouched.

In the eight years since the passage of PFL many other states have surpassed New York by enacting stronger TDI benefits and protections, and adapting their laws to be flexible to the changing nature of workplaces and families. New Yorkers deserve better.

continued on page 7

Paid Medical Leave/ continued from page 6

And the cost of improvement is not high. Both TDI and PFL are social insurance programs which, like Social Security, are paid for through payroll deductions. Premiums are paid by all workers and employers throughout the state, making the cost to any individual worker or employer small.

The clear need for improved TDI was recognized by Governor Kathy Hochul in her proposed budget for the next State fiscal year, starting April 1st. She proposes to raise the TDI benefit and provide job protection and health insurance continuation. However, her proposal remedies these problems very slowly, over the course of five years. In addition, it permanently freezes benefits for the latter part of a TDI claim at $280 per week, without regard to inflation, and fails to institute a fair wage replacement rate ensuring that those who need benefits will have enough to live on.

Hochul’s proposal also fails to permit intermittent leave for

those who need to take time for treatments like chemotherapy and mental health therapy, and abandons new employees and freelancers when it comes to paid family leave, making them wait too long to be eligible.

Fortunately, a bill sponsored by State Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages would more broadly and quickly improve both TDI and PFL. The bill enjoys broad support from unions, health advocacy groups, and legal services providers.

The recently passed Senate and Assembly “one-house” budget bills incorporate many of the elements of the Ramos/Solages bill that are not in the governor’s budget proposal. All three budgets will increase the TDI benefit level while protecting jobs and health insurance during a worker’s absence from work. However, the Senate budget uses a progressive wage replacement to raise benefits and increases them on a much faster timeline than the governor’s proposal. It also contains important fixes to the length of

time workers and independent contractors must wait to be covered by paid family leave. The Assembly version, while adding few of the additional improvements in the Ramos/Solages bill, does allow intermittent leave TDI coverage, which the Senate budget bill does not.

The next step is negotiation over the elements of all these proposals for a final budget adopted by the full legislature.

All elements of the Ramos/Solages bill in the one-house budgets deserve inclusion in the adopted budget. New Yorkers have waited too long for decent medical leave. The time is now to make the reforms necessary to ensure a stronger safety net for workers who need time to care for themselves and their family.p

Sherry Leiwant is co-president and co-founder of A Better Balance, a national legal advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure that workers can care for themselves and their families without risking their economic security. ABB helped lead the campaign that enacted paid family leave in New York in 2016.

Party Rentals for All

lBounce Houses & Slides

lFun Food Concessions

lGames

lPackage Specials

lTent, Tables, Chairs & Other Party Essentials Call 848.999.4928

NYC Comptroller and CLC Host Inaugural Workers’ Rights Convening

On Wednesday, March 27, the Office of the New York City Comptroller and the NYC CLC hosted a Workers’ Rights Convening at the CUNY School of Law. This inaugural event built on the recent surge of workplace organizing campaigns and focused on building worker power, bringing together organizers and advocates from across labor, workers’ rights organizations, academia, and government to network and share ideas. NYC Comptroller Brad Lander and CLC President Vinny Alvarez delivered remarks alongside NYC Council Labor Chair Carmen De La Rosa, acclaimed Journalist and Author of “Fight Like Hell” Kim Kelly, and Director of Workers Rights at the Office of the NYC Comptroller Claudia Henriquez.

The program included breakout sessions focused on In-

vestor Stewardship and Worker Standards, The Role of Local Government, and Unions, Worker Centers, and Communities. Panelists included representatives from the CLC, Adhikaar, 32BJ SEIU, SEIU, ALIGN, LECET, Los Deliveristas Unidos/Worker’s Justice Project, NABTU, New Immigrant Community Empowerment, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and NYU Wagner Labor Initiative.p

Remembering the 113th Anniversary of the Triangle Fire

OOn March 25, 1911, 146 workers—mostly young, immigrant women—were killed in a horrific fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory at Washington Place and Greene Street in lower Manhattan. Inadequate fire escapes, locked doors, and an overall disregard for worker safety contributed to the tragedy.

On Monday, March 25, the NYC Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Workers United SEIU, and the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition hosted a commemoration of the 113th Anniversary Commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. During the event, family members and others read the names of workers who perished during the blaze, and flowers were laid at the site of the fire, the building that is now home to a stunning and long-awaited memorial. A fire truck ladder

was raised to the 6th floor of the building, the highest point it could reach in 1911, although the fire engulfed the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors. Held annually, this commemoration educates rank and file members, activists, students, and our community allies about workplace safety, collective bargaining rights, and the importance of standing together to protect workers’ safety. We were joined this year by NYS Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, young activists from El Puente who told the story of the fire, and representatives of Los Deliveristas Unidos, Starbucks Workers United, NYU Pay Your Workers, and the Workers Circle. NYC Public School teacher Jameel McKanstry, the FDNY's Regina Wilson, and the NYC Labor Chorus performed for the crowd.p

Key Bridge Tragedy A Reminder of the Risks Essential Immigrant Workers Take

BY AMERICA’S VOICE

Washington, DC: The collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore is a tragedy that is once again being twisted by right-wing media and elected officials to scapegoat immigrants. Conspiracy theories about terrorists who cross the allegedly “open” border to do us harm is now a reflexive and utterly false narrative of conservatives on TV, Twitter, and Congress. Rather than engage in conspiratorial posturing, we choose to acknowledge those impacted by the incident, many of them immigrant essential workers.

Among those still missing, according to The Washington Post, are six members of a road construction crew that included “Mexican, Guatemalan and Salvadoran people.”

As we’ve mentioned before and is covered by major outlets (here, here, and here), immigrants play a crucial role in our economic success and postpandemic rebound. Migrants often take “essential” jobs that are inherently dangerous, but critical to various industries.

This Day in Labor History

According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice:

“Our heart breaks for the families of the lost bridge workers. It’s upsetting, and sadly predictable, how quickly Fox News and others jump to blame immigrants or link them negatively to any story. The reality is that so many migrants risk their lives to come to the United States and then continue taking on risks as they try to make a living and support their families. The pan-

As The Wall Street Journal reports, “The crew of workers from Mexico and Central America were well into their night shift, pouring concrete to fix the potholes that dotted the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The job could be dangerous in the daytime, let alone at night. The bridge, suspended up to 185 feet above the Patapsco River, would sway with passing tractor-trailers. But the men needed to work … ‘They’re fathers with families. They’re people who came to earn their bread each day,” said Jesus Campos, who had worked on the bridge but wasn’t on shift Monday night.’”

demic revealed just how essential these workers are to everyday American life, and the continued demonization by right-wing actors is reprehensible.

Referring to the role of essential workers during COVID, Karen Tumulty is correct in her column in today’s Washington Post when she said, ‘doing right by the essential workers who kept the country going during a dark time — and might well be called upon to do it again someday — seems like the least we can do.’”p

March 7, 1942: IWW founder and labor organizer Lucy Parsons dies. 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.p

Five Reasons Why Spring Is the Perfect Time to Sell

BY EQUITY SMART REALTY INC

Spring is many people's favorite season of the year. There are many valid reasons why this is so, but one of the best things about spring is that it is an ideal time to sell your home. If you have considered putting your home on the market any time in the next year or so, check out these five reasons that make spring the ideal time.

Buyers are searching: Most home buyers want to move during summer. Many families have school or work vacations that make moving a little easier during this time. If you put your home on the market during spring, you ready things for someone to purchase and move in during this prime time

The weather is cooperative: Yes, there may be a few spring rain showers here and there,

but during the spring season (in most parts of the country,) you'll find that the weather is neither too hot nor too cold to keep buyers from searching. In addition, the spring sunshine makes for beautiful listing photos.

It's an excellent time for home improvement: Whether you want to make improvements to your house to make selling easier or you plan to sell your home as a fixer-upper, the knowledge that spring and the coming summer months are the perfect time to attend to

these tasks will benefit you during the listing and sales process.

Your yard will look great: Curb appeal is one of the most important things considered when someone purchases a home. When you sell in springtime, the grass is green, the flowers are in bloom, and your yard will look its very best. You may find that it's a little easier to sell during this time because of the extra "wow factor" your yard brings.

The market is prime: Listen to any news or finance program, and you'll hear that the real estate market is booming. Take advantage of this benefit and pair it with all the other reasons to sell your home this spring. You may find that selling your property quickly and at your asking price is much easier than ever imagined.

As you can see, spring is an excellent time to sell a home. However, please consider putting it on the market and expect to reap all the benefits before the season's peak. Act now and be ready to make a splash when the weather warms up and the sun shines.

Guidance

If you're currently staging your home and are planning to put it on the market, you may want to contact one of our local real estate professionals for more information.

Our professional team is happy to share our experience to help you make the best buying decision. Call us 888-670-6791.p

Immigrant Women

continued from page 1

The holiday’s origins can be traced back to the women’s suffrage and labor movements in the early 20th century – predominantly those led by women in the workforce.

Along with U.S.-born women, female immigrants play an integral role in American society.

As of 2022, there were 23.6 million immigrant women in the United States, making up 7.1% of the total population and 7.6% of the labor force. Their stories are intertwined with the ongoing struggle for gender equality and social justice – a narrative woven into the fabric of this international holiday.

Honoring Immigrant Women Working in Labor-Intensive Jobs

Millions of immigrant women hold crucial positions in the workforce today, fulfilling essential roles that are fundamental to American daily life.

In 2022, 66.4% of immigrant women, or 8.6 million people, worked in jobs that did not require a bachelor’s degree, providing care and services much

needed by community members.

Immigrant women workers without bachelor’s degrees concentrate in professions in the following areas: restaurants and food services (10.1%), services to buildings (4.9%), hospitals (4.0%), elementary and secondary schools (3.9%), home health services (3.4%), and private households (3.4%).

Some of these professions have astonishing representation of immigrant women. For example, 57.3% of manicurists and pedicurists are immigrant women, as are 44.6% of maids and housekeeping cleaners, 37.2% of agricultural sorters and graders, and 35.4% of home health aides.

Immigrant Women in Healthcare

Immigrant women also make significant contributions to several key industries including healthcare. More than one in five immigrant women work in health care and social assistance, which had the most job openings among all U.S. industries in 2023, according to data from Lightcast Technologies.

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

Among the 2.8 million immigrant women working in this field, more than one out of seven are registered nurses –an occupation that is projected to grow over the next ten years and is already seeing shortages in available workers.

Immigrant Women in STEM

Apart from home health and personal care aides, software developers are projected to have the largest increase in the number of new jobs in the next ten years. About one-fifth of immigrant women working in STEM are software developers – providing a necessary skillset in a growing field.

Overall, 810,400 immigrant women work in STEM occupations, making up 6.3% of the country’s STEM workforce.

Their expertise in STEM fields not only fuels innovation but stimulates job creation and economic growth.

Underemployment and Inequalities

Immigrant women play an increasingly important role in the STEM field and other highskilled jobs, but many collegeeducated immigrant women struggle to find jobs that will utilize their professional training and experience.

Among immigrant women with college degrees, 32.9% work in jobs that do not require such degrees, compared with 27.5% of U.S.-born women with the same credentials. The underemployment of immigrant women has significantly undermined their earn-

ing potential.

In addition, despite their significant contributions to various industries and occupations, immigrant women earn less than other demographic groups. The median annual wage of immigrant women is $35,000, lower than the median wage of U.S.born men ($50,000), immigrant men ($48,000), and U.S.-born women ($40,000). Previous studies have identified several factors this wage gap can be attributable to, including education level, race and ethnicity, English proficiency, and immigration status.

The diverse roles that immigrant women play underscore their vitality to the U.S. economy and society as a whole. From serving in essential roles in healthcare, education, and hospitality to making strides in STEM fields and beyond, immigrant women enrich every facet of our communities. Discrepancies in wages are just one piece of evidence for the work that still needs to be done to achieve equitable access to opportunities for growth and economic prosperity for women of all backgrounds. p

“Immigration and Labor Force Participation

Both Contributed to the Very Strong Economic Output Growth That We Had Last Year.”

New York, NY: Axios highlighted the positive impacts of immigrants in strengthening the overall resilience of the U.S. economy and the labor market, noting that rising levels of immigration played a key role in the growth of the American workforce that helped relieve last year’s economic pressures.

Jerome Powell, the Chair of the Federal Reserve of the U.S., backed their calculations, saying “I think it’s just reporting the facts to say that immigration and labor force participation both contributed to the very strong economic output growth that we had last year.”

Wendy Edelberg and Tara Watson, economists for the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution, emphasized that immigration has not only

benefited the labor force, but has also aided in resilient consumer spending and GDP growth. According to their estimates, “immigration pushed up real consumer spending growth by about 0.2 percentage point last year” and “economic activity directly attributable to the increase in immigration also increased real GDP by 0.1 percentage point per year since 2022.”

“Simply put: Immigrants have been vital to the growth of the U.S. economy. Recent data underscores the positive contributions that immigrants have had on the U.S. labor force and economy in the past year. We call on our leaders in New York City, Albany, and Washington to face the facts and take immediate action to expand migrants and asylum seekers’ access to work authorization and deliver real solutions to funding for

community resources, like housing and legal services,” said Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition.

Read highlights from the article below:

State of play: New analysis from the Brookings Institution puts some hard numbers on the relationship between the rise in immigration and the labor market — finding an influx of workers is allowing the U.S. to sustain higher rates of payroll gains than forecasters thought it could before the pandemic.

“Faster population and labor force growth has meant that employment could grow more quickly than previously believed without adding to inflationary pressures,” economists

Wendy Edelberg and Tara Watson write for the Hamilton Project

But Edelberg and Watson say

that, accounting for higher immigration, the economy could have accommodated job growth between 160,000 and 230,000 in 2023 “without adding to pressure in the labor market that pushed up wages and price inflation.”

The authors estimate that, if immigration continues at the current rate, “employment growth of nearly 200,000 workers a month is consistent with a healthy, but not too hot, labor market” — roughly double what forecasters thought to be the case before the pickup in immigration.

The authors estimate the immigration surge didn’t just jolt the labor force — but also is at least a small factor behind resilient consumer spending and GDP growth.

Immigration pushed up real consumer spending growth by about 0.2 percentage point last

year — with a similar boost expected this year, the authors estimate.

Economic activity directly attributable to the increase in immigration also increased real GDP by 0.1 percentage point per year since 2022.

“It’s just arithmetic,” Powell told the House Financial Services Committee. “If you add a couple million people to an economy, a percentage of them work, there will be more output.”

“I’m just reporting the facts there,” he added. “I’m not going to say anything is needed for the future or good policy indirectly or directly. I think it’s just reporting the facts to say that immigration and labor force participation both contributed to the very strong economic output growth that we had last year.”p

Transforming Your Financial Life

Transforming your financial life can be daunting but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process much more achievable. It involves significant changes to improve your financial situation, habits, and outlook. Here are some steps you can take to begin this transformation:

Assess Your Current Situation: Take stock of your financial standing by examining your income, expenses, assets, and debts. Understanding where you stand financially is crucial for setting realistic goals and creating an improvement plan.

Set Clear Goals: Define your short-term and long-term financial goals. These could include paying off debt, saving for retirement, buying a home, or starting a business. Ensure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and

time-bound (SMART).

Create a Budget: Develop a budget that aligns with your goals and helps you manage your income and expenses effectively. Track your spending to identify where to cut back and allocate more money towards your goals.

Reduce Expenses: Look for opportunities to trim unnecessary expenses from your budget. This could involve renegotiat-

ing bills, eliminating subscriptions or memberships you don’t use, cooking at home more often, or finding cheaper alternatives for everyday purchases.

Increase Income: Explore ways to boost your income, such as asking for a raise at work, taking on a side hustle or freelance gigs, renting out unused space in your home, or investing in income-generating assets.

Pay Off Debt: Prioritize paying off high-interest debt to reduce financial stress and free up more money for saving and investing. Consider using the debt snowball or debt avalanche method to tackle your debts systematically.

Build an Emergency Fund:

Start saving for emergencies by setting aside enough money to cover three to six months’ living expenses. An emergency fund provides a financial safety net and helps you avoid debt when unexpected expenses arise. Invest for the Future: Begin investing for the long term to grow your wealth and achieve your financial goals faster. Take advantage of retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs and other investment vehicles such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate.

Educate Yourself: Take the time to learn about personal finance, investing, and money management strategies. Plenty

of resources are available, including books, podcasts, online courses, and financial advisors who can provide guidance tailored to your specific needs and goals.

Stay Committed and Patient: Transforming your financial life takes time, effort, and discipline. Stay focused on your goals, track your progress regularly, and adjust as needed. Remember that small, consistent steps can lead to significant improvements over time. By implementing these steps and staying committed to your financial journey, you can transform your financial life and build a more secure and prosperous future for yourself and your loved ones.

Legal Guidance

Are you struggling finacially? Ready to see if bankruptcy is right for you? Consult the Bankruptcy Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates. Call 855-7688845 to schedule an appointment. p

*List of debts

*Your most recent tax returns

*Correspondence from creditors

*Lawsuit documents

*Social Security and ID

*List of assets

Love, Health & Travel

Not Having Job Flexibility

Security Can Leave Workers Feeling Depressed, Anxious and Hopeless

BY MONICA WANG

When employees don’t have control over their work schedules, it’s not just morale that suffers – mental health takes a hit too. That’s what my colleagues and I discovered in a study recently published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open.

As a public health expert, I know that the way our jobs are designed can affect our wellbeing. Research has shown that flexibility, security and autonomy in the workplace are strong determinants of health.

To understand how powerful they are, my colleagues and I looked at the 2021 National Health Interview Survey, a major data collection initiative

run out of the National Center for Health Statistics. We analyzed responses from 18,144 working adults across the U.S., teasing out how job flexibility and security may be linked with mental health.

The respondents were asked how easily they could change their work schedule to do things important to them or their family, whether their work schedule changed on a regular basis, and how far in advance they usually knew their schedules. They also rated their perceived risk of losing their job in the next 12 months.

We found that workers who had more flexible work arrangements were less likely to report feelings of depression, hopelessness and anxiety. Similarly, those with greater

job security were at lower risk of mental health challenges. We also found that higher job security was linked with fewer instances of missing work over the past year.

Why it matters

The average full-time worker dedicates a third of their lifetime waking hours to work. Given that fact, understanding how job design affects mental health is key to developing policies that bolster well-being.

It’s clear why employers should care: When workers aren’t feeling well mentally, they’re less productive and more likely to miss work. Their creativity, collaboration and ability to meet job demands also suffer, hurting the entire organization.

The impact of job-related stress extends beyond the workplace, affecting families, communities and health care systems. People grappling with work-related mental health challenges often require multiple forms of support, such as access to counseling, medication and social services. Not addressing these needs comprehensively can cause serious long-term consequences, including reduced quality of life and increased health care costs.

It’s important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened mental health disparities and that individuals in lowerwage positions, front-line workers and people in marginalized communities continue to face additional challenges. In this context, understanding exactly how job and work design can affect people’s mental health is all the more important.

What’s next

My research team plans to examine how race and gender affect the links between job flexibility, job security and mental health.

Previous research suggests that women and people of color experience unique workplace stressors that harm their mental well-being. For instance, women continue to face barriers to career advancement, unequal pay and a higher burden of unpaid care work.

Similarly, employees of color often experience discrimination, microaggressions and limited opportunities for professional growth at work, all of which can harm mental health. Understanding gender and racial differences will help researchers and organizations develop targeted interventions and policy recommendations.

Mental health challenges are far from rare: More than 50 million Americans, or nearly 1 in 5 adults, live with mental illness. By creating workplaces that prioritize employee wellbeing – through flexible work arrangements, supportive policies and access to mental health resources – organizations can help build a healthier society.

Spring Travel: Tips for a Refreshing Adventure

BY PARADISE DESTINATIONS TRAVEL

As the chill of winter fades away and nature begins to bloom anew, spring emerges as a delightful season for travel. Whether you're planning a rejuvenating getaway or an exciting adventure, spring offers a plethora of opportunities to explore the world. However, to make the most of your spring travel experience, it's essential to consider some key tips that can enhance your journey and ensure a memorable adventure.

1. Embrace the Diversity of Destinations

Spring opens up a myriad of destinations to explore, each offering unique experiences. The options are endless, from witnessing cherry blossoms in Japan to hiking through wildflower-covered meadows in the Swiss Alps. Consider the type of experience you desire – cultural immersion, outdoor adventures, or simply relaxation –and choose a destination that aligns with your preferences.

2. Plan, But Remain Flexible

While planning is crucial for a successful trip, especially during peak travel seasons like spring, it's equally important to remain flexible. Spring weather can be unpredictable, so be prepared for sudden changes and have alternative plans. Additionally, popular attractions may be crowded, so booking tickets and accommodations in advance can help secure your spot and avoid disappointment.

3. Pack Accordingly

Spring weather can vary greatly depending on your destination, so pack versatile clothing suitable for fluctuating temperatures. Layers are key to adapting to changing weather conditions, allowing you to stay comfortable while exploring a bustling city or embarking on a wilderness adventure. Remember essentials like sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the increasing intensity of the sun.

4. Immerse Yourself in Local Culture

Spring festivals and events pro-

vide an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in your destination's local culture and traditions. Whether attending a cherry blossom festival in Washington, D.C., or celebrating Easter in the Caribbean, participating in these cultural experiences can enrich your journey and create lasting memories. Be sure to research upcoming events and plan your itinerary accordingly.

5. Explore Outdoor Activities

Spring is the perfect time to indulge in outdoor activities and enjoy the beauty of nature. From hiking and biking to picnicking and birdwatching,

there are endless opportunities to reconnect with the great outdoors. Take advantage of the mild temperatures and blooming landscapes to explore parks, gardens, and scenic trails, and embrace spring's sense of adventure.

6. Practice Responsible Travel

As you embark on your spring travels, remember to be responsible and respect the environment, local communities, and cultures you encounter. Minimize your environmental footprint by opting for eco-friendly accommodations, supporting local businesses, and practicing sustainable tourism principles.

Additionally, be mindful of cultural customs and etiquette and strive to engage with locals respectfully and meaningfully.

7. Capture the Moment

Lastly, remember to capture the beauty and essence of your spring travels through photographs and journaling. Whether you're documenting breathtaking landscapes, vibrant festivals, or memorable encounters, these mementos will allow you to relive your experiences long after your journey has ended. Take the time to savor each moment and create a lasting legacy of your spring adventures.

Pack Your Bags

Remember, spring travel offers a beautiful opportunity to explore the world and embrace the season's joys. Following these tips ensures a rewarding and unforgettable journey filled with cultural immersion, outdoor adventures, and cherished memories. So, pack your bags, set out on your spring adventure, and let the season's beauty inspire your travels.p

Can Sleep Divorce Save Your Marriage?

BY PEARL PHILLIP

Recently, the concept of “sleep divorce” has gained attention as couples seek solutions to sleep disturbances and nighttime disagreements. While the idea of sleeping apart may seem counterintuitive in a romantic relationship, an increasing number of couples find that this unconventional arrangement can breathe new life into their marriages. Sleep divorce, or the decision for partners to sleep separately in different beds or rooms, is not about abandoning intimacy or connection. Instead, it’s a practical solution to address the real challenges of sharing a bed. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recognizes several potential reasons why both women and men may feel tired. Some of these reasons may include:

•Sleep disorders: Conditions

such as insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy can disrupt sleep and lead to fatigue.

•Hormonal changes: Women may experience fluctuations in hormone levels throughout their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, which can affect sleep quality and contribute to fatigue.

•Stress and mental health: High levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can interfere with sleep and leave individuals feeling tired during the day.

•Lifestyle factors: Poor sleep habits, such as irregular sleep schedules, excessive screen time before bed, and consuming caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime, can all negatively impact sleep quality and contribute to fatigue.

•Medical conditions: Chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune diseases can cause persistent fatigue.

•Medications: Certain medications, including some antidepressants, antihistamines, and medicines for high blood pressure, can have side effects that disrupt sleep and lead to daytime tiredness.

•Work schedule: Shift work, irregular work hours, and long work hours can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and contribute to fatigue. Environmental factors: Noise, light, temperature, and other

environmental factors in the sleep environment can affect sleep quality and contribute to daytime tiredness.

Benefits of Sleep Divorce

One of the primary ways sleep divorce can save a marriage is by improving overall sleep quality for both partners. Quality sleep is essential for physical health, mental wellbeing, and emotional regulation. When partners are

Compensation for

well-rested, they are better equipped to handle the stresses of daily life, communicate effectively, and show empathy and understanding towards each other. This way, sleep divorce can create a positive cycle of mutual support and connection.

Sleep divorce can also foster greater independence and autonomy within the relationship. While intimacy and togetherness are essential, so are individual space and selfcare. By respecting each other’s need for rest and privacy, couples can cultivate a healthier balance between closeness and independence. This can increase trust, respect, and appreciation for one another’s boundaries.

Furthermore, sleep divorce can help couples reclaim their bedrooms as a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation. When the bedroom becomes a space free from sleep disturbances and nighttime conflicts,

continued on page 17

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Sleep Divorce/ continued from page 16

it can once again become a place of intimacy and connection. Couples may enjoy spending quality time together in bed, whether cuddling, talking, or simply enjoying each other’s presence without the pressure of sharing sleep space.

How to Discuss Sleep Divorce in Your Marriage

Of course, implementing sleep divorce requires open communication, compromise, and a willingness to prioritize each other’s well-being. Couples should discuss their reasons for considering separate sleeping arrangements and explore alternative solutions if necessary. For some couples, occasional nights of separate sleep may be sufficient, while others prefer a more permanent arrangement. Whatever the case, the key is to approach sleep divorce as a collaborative effort to strengthen the relationship rather than weaken it. Discussing sleep divorce in a marriage requires sensitivity,

honesty, and open communication. Here are some steps to guide you through the process:

•Choose the right time and place: Find a time when you and your partner are calm and relaxed, and choose a private setting where you can have an uninterrupted conversation. Avoid bringing up the topic during moments of stress or tension.

•Express your concerns: Start the conversation by expressing your feelings and concerns about sleep quality and how it affects your well-being and the relationship. Be honest about any sleep disturbances you’ve been experiencing and how they impact your mood, en-

ergy levels, and overall health.

•Listen to your partner: Allow your partner to share their thoughts and feelings about sleep quality and any sleep disturbances they may be experiencing. Listen attentively without interrupting, and try to understand their perspective.

•Educate each other: Take the time to educate each other about the benefits of quality sleep and the potential impact of sleep disturbances on physical and mental health. Please share any information you’ve discovered about sleep divorce and how it has helped other couples improve their sleep and relationship.

•Explore alternative solutions: Brainstorm together to find alternative solutions to improve sleep quality without resorting to sleep divorce. This could include trying different sleeping arrangements, investing in a comfortable mattress or bedding, using white noise machines or earplugs, or seeking treatment for underlying sleep disorders.

•Be open to compromise: Be open-minded and willing to compromise as you discuss potential solutions. Remember that the goal is to find a solution that works for both partners and strengthens the relationship.

•Discuss logistics: If you both agree that sleep divorce is worth considering, discuss the logistics of how it would work in your particular situation. This may include deciding whether to sleep separately every night or just on certain nights, determining where each partner will sleep, and setting boundaries around privacy and intimacy.

•Reassure each other: Reassure your partner that sleep di-

vorce does not reflect your love or commitment to each other. Emphasize that it’s a practical solution to improve both partners’ sleep quality and overall well-being.

•Check-in regularly: After implementing any changes to your sleeping arrangements, check in regularly with each other to see how it’s working and make any necessary adjustments. Keep the lines of communication open and support each other as you navigate this new relationship phase.

Strengthening Your Marriage

In conclusion, sleep divorce allows couples to prioritize sleep quality, autonomy, and intimacy within their relationship. Couples can cultivate a more profound understanding, respect, and love for each other by acknowledging and addressing the challenges of sharing a bed. In this way, sleep divorce has the potential to not only save marriages but also enhance them, creating a stronger foundation for a lifetime of love and partnership.p

Anti-DEI Efforts Are the Latest Attack on Racial Equity and Free Speech

BY LEAH WATSON, ACLU

First, Donald Trump and right-wing extremists attacked government trainings on racism and sexism. Then the far right tried to censor classroom instruction on racism and sexism. Next, they banned books about BIPOC and LGBTQ lives. Today, the extreme right’s latest attack is aimed at dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

In 2023, the far right introduced at least 65 bills to limit DEI in higher education in 25 states and the U.S. Congress. Eight bills became law. If this assault on our constitutional rights feels familiar, that’s because it is. It was last seen in 2020 when Trump-aligned politicians fought to pass unconstitutional laws aimed at censoring student and faculty speech about race, racism, sex and sexism. The ACLU challenged these laws in three states, but today, anti-DEI efforts are the new frontier in the

fight to end the erasure of marginalized communities.

DEI programs recruit and retain BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented faculty and students to repair decades of discriminatory policies and practices that excluded them from higher education. The far right, however, claims that DEI programs universally promote undeserving people who only advance because they check a box. Anti-DEI activists like Christopher Rufo consistently frame their attack as a strike against “identity politics,” and have weaponized the term “DEI” to reference any ideas and policies they disagree with, especially those that address systemic racism or sexism.

This attack on DEI is part of a larger backlash against racial justice efforts that ignited after the 2020 killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. At the time, workplaces, schools, and other institutions announced plans to expand DEI efforts and to in-

corporate anti-racism principles in their communities. In response, far-right activists, led by Rufo and supported by right-wing think tanks such as The Manhattan Institute, The Claremont Institute, and The Heritage Foundation, went on the offensive.

Leveraging Fox News and other mainstream media outlets, Rufo and his supporters sought to manufacture hysteria around the inclusion of critical race theory in schools and workplaces. After a 2020 appearance on Fox News where Rufo misrepresented the nature of federal trainings on oppression, white privilege, and intersectionality as indoctrination of critical race theory in our public spaces, Rufo convinced former President Trump to end federal DEI training. Rufo’s goal was to limit discourse, instruction, and research that refuted the false assertion that racism is not real in America – and he succeeded. Just three weeks later, Trump issued Executive

Order 13950, which banned federal trainings on systemic racism and sexism. This Executive Order served as the template for most of the educational gag orders, or bills introduced to limit instruction on systemic sexism and racism in 40 states, 20 of which are now law.

The ACLU has consistently opposed efforts to censor classroom instruction on racism and sexism, including in Florida where some of the most egregious attacks on DEI, critical race theory and inclusive education have been mounted. Following the far right’s “anti-wokeism” playbook, in April 2022, Florida Governor Ron Desantis signed the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, which seeks to ban training or instruction on systemic racism and sexism in workplaces, K12 schools, and higher education. The ACLU, the ACLU of Florida and our co-counsel challenged the law, claiming it violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments by im-

posing viewpoint-based restrictions on instructors and students in higher education, and fails to state explicitly and definitely what conduct is punishable. A federal judge has blocked it from being enforced in public universities across the state.

Instead of ceasing to censor free speech, the far right pivoted to target DEI programs. For example, Florida passed Senate Bill 266 in April 2023. This law would expand the Stop W.O.K.E. Act’s prohibition on training and instruction on racism and sexism, seeking to eliminate DEI programs and heavily restrict certain college majors related to DEI. Just last month, the Florida State Board of Education moved forward with regulations to limit the use of public funds for DEI efforts in Florida’s 28 state colleges. The State Board also replaced the Principles of Sociology course, which was previously required, with an American History course to avoid “radical woke ideologies.”

Led by the same far-right leaders, including Rufo and various think-tanks, these antiDEI efforts utilize the same methods as the attack on critical race theory. They represent yet another attempt to rewhitewash America’s history of racial subjugation, and to reverse efforts to pursue racial justice—or any progress at all. Anti-DEI rhetoric has been used to invalidate immunological research supporting the COVID-19 vaccine, conclusions by economists on mass migration, and even the January 6 insurrection. But these false claims are not what DEI is about. By definition equity means levelling the playing field so qualified people from underrepresented backgrounds have a fair chance to succeed. We cannot let a loud fringe movement convince us otherwise.

In its attacks on DEI, the far right undermines not only racial justice efforts, but also violates our right to free speech and free association. Today, the ACLU is determined to push back on anti-DEI efforts just as we fought efforts to censor instruction on systemic racism and sexism from schools.p