Workers' World Today - Issue 46

Domestic Workers Are America’s Most Undervalued Resource

BY SUNITA SOHRABJI EMS

BURBANK, California: Domestic workers in the US are underpaid and over-utilized, but are largely exempt from protection by labor laws, said Ai-Jen Poo, President of National Domestic Workers Alliance.

The well-known labor rights activist is currently heading up a campaign to pass the National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, and in

What Barbie Can Teach Us About the Gender Wage Gap

the Senate by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, and Ben Lujan, D-New Mexico.

In April, the NDWA — in collaboration with the Care Can’t Wait coalition — won a major victory: President Joe Biden issued 50 executive orders directed at improving care and protections for domestic workers. April has been designated Care Workers Recognition Month.

“Across America, care workers help raise our children, assist seniors as they age with dignity, and support people

BY ROSE KHATTER, SARA ESTEP, LILY ROBERTS & MAGGIE JOE BUCHANAN CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS

Doctor, physicist, lawyer—what do these jobs have in common? Not only are they highprofile careers represented by Barbie dolls over the past 60 years and in the recently released movie, but they are also examples of well-paid professions where women are underrepresented and

continued on page 4 continued on page 6

America Is Falling Behind in the Global Competition

BY KAREN AHO, IMMIGRATIONIMPACT.COM

In June, the Canadian immigration minister announced a new initiative to attract high-tech talent to Canada — from the United States.

The Tech Talent Strategy targets foreign-

Renowned labor activist Ai-jen Poo was the keynote speaker at The SCAN Foundation summit July 19.

(Sunita Sohrabji photo)

NYC Food Delivery Workers’ Rights

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.

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

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

The New Leadership Keeping New York City Safe

BY HON ERIC ADAMS MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY

As Mayor of New York, I know just how important public safety is to our city, and how important the right leadership is in achieving it. Over the last 18 months, this Administration has made major progress in driving down major crime, and last week I named a new leadership team at the NYPD that will continue to improve safety across our city and keep New York the safest big city in America.

This new team is not just making news – they are making history. Police Commissioner Edward Caban is the first Hispanic Police Commissioner in our city’s history, bringing decades of experience and leadership to this role. Our incoming First Deputy Commissioner, Tania Kinsella, is the first woman of color to serve in this role. Rebecca Weiner, our new Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism, is also the

first woman to serve in her position.

And when I reflect on my time as being mayor of this great city, the appointment of Edward Caban as the new Police Commissioner will probably be one of the most significant and emotional moments for me. Eddie is blue-collar. He is a working New Yorker. His story is a New York City story. His father was a transit cop when I was a transit cop. And as the head of the Transit Police Hispanic Society, Eddie’s father fought for diversity every day to improve the rank

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and file of the NYPD. And now his son is the Police Commissioner.

These are the new faces of the NYPD. They are from immigrant families, Hispanic, Black, and female. This is an NYPD that looks like the people they serve. They all bring impressive credentials and a record of success to their roles and will build on the historic work begun by Police Commissioner Sewell.

When we came into office in January 2022, our city was on the brink. Together with Commissioner Sewell’s leadership,

Editor-in-Chief

Pearl Phillip

Contributing Writers

Linda Nwoke

Victoria Falk

Travis Morales

Mary Campbell

Janet Howard

Chris Tobias

Erin Telesford Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq.

we made major strides and turned the tide on the most violent crimes. Shootings are down. Murders are down. Overall crime is down. We have seized over 10,000 guns from our streets since coming into office, disrupting the iron pipeline. Hate crimes are down. And our subways are getting safer.

We have recovered 99.9% of pre-pandemic private sector jobs, and tourists are filling our Broadway theaters and spending money across the five boroughs. This is progress. And it is clear, New York City is not coming back, we are back. But we still have much to left to do.

This new leadership team will continue to bring crime down, reduce transit crime, reduce car thefts and enhance the NYPD’s focus on qualityof-life issues like retail theft. They are New York's finest and understand the importance of both safety and justice. And they reflect who we are as a city. Diverse and full of hustle. This is an amazing moment for our city. This team has the right leaders for right now. p

Mayor Eric Adams speaks at public safety announcement by Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Edward Caban at NYPD Headquarters in New York on July 18, 2023 Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Workers’ Matters

Domestic Workers continued from page 1

with disabilities, giving families peace of mind and making it possible for millions of Americans to earn a paycheck while their loved ones are safe and secure,” said Biden in a statement announcing the executive orders. “These unsung heroes strengthen our communities and form the backbone of our nation’s economy.”

Low Pay, No Sick Leave

The president noted that domestic workers are among the lowest paid workers in the US economy, and often juggle multiple jobs while struggling to care for their own households.

“Family care givers are especially overstretched,” said Poo July 19, speaking at The Scan Foundation’s first Advancing Health Equity in Aging summit. “Other countries have a social safety net. We use workers to take care of our families, but they are grossly underpaid, have no sick time, and sometimes no days off,” she said.

“We have worked to make childcare and elder care good

paying jobs, with access to medical leave and paid time off. The progress has been slow and incremental,” said Poo.

Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

Poo has worked on labor rights issues since 1996, and was the 2014 recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, also known as a “Genius Grant.”

The NDWA was established in 2007. It achieved its first victory three years later, when the state of New York passed the nation’s first-ever Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

The new law provided comprehensive employment benefits to domestic workers, including overtime pay, paid vacation, sick time, and health insurance coverage. The legislation was revised in 2021 to add additional protections including provisions for undocumented workers, who often face wage theft by their employers. In New York, domestic workers are defined as full-time nannies, au pairs, housekeepers, and the caretakers of elderly people.

The Value of Stories

Poo spoke about the power of hearing directly from people she hoped to impact. “When we first set out to rewrite labor laws in New York, we realized we had to ask domestic workers what they really needed.”

The NDWA set up a conference, reaching out to potential attendees at churches, parks, and other venues. “We listened to each one of them for hours,” she said, noting “there were interpreters in seven languages.”

“Listening to people really helped us win. You have to engage with people who have the

most at stake.”

Poo shared her credo: “Listen to learn, not confirm.”

State Legislation

10 states have now adopted legislation to protect domestic workers. California passed AB 241 in 2013, granting, in part, overtime pay to domestic workers at one and a half times their regular rate of pay for any hours worked in excess of nine hours in a day or in excess of 45 hours in a week.

Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Virginia also have some version of a

Domestic Workers Rights Bill. And three cities have also passed similar legislation: Philadelphia, Chicago, and Seattle. Philadelphia’s law is considered the strictest in the nation, requiring a written contract with a description of duties, along with rest breaks and meal breaks, as well as paid time off.

Disability Care

The attempts to establish such legislation have received pushback from organizations supporting differently-abled people. “Raising the minimum wage for personal attendants without raising Medicaid resources meant that many people would lose access to their care providers. People couldn’t afford care,” explained Poo. She stressed the need to expand financial resources to the disabled community.

“So many false choices trap us,” said Poo. “We need to find the emotional truth.”

“Our biggest challenge is making people understand that change is possible,” she said. “I can’t believe how far we’ve come.”p

‘We don’t value care in America.’

- Ai-Jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance

Workers at Brooklyn Defender Services and Neighborhood Defender Services, Inc. Hold Pickets in Support of Contract Fights

The BDS Union (a chapter of ALAA-UAW) held a lunchtime picket on Wednesday in downtown Brooklyn to show management that it’s time Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) get serious in its efforts to reach a strong fair contract as soon as possible. In 2020, faced with immense burnout, unlivable wages, and disorganization, the staff at BDS decided to unionize and the union won an election in a landslide. Since then, they have been in negotiations with BDS for a first contract. Management has consistently demonstrated a lack of interest in reaching an agreement even after the union provided reasonable offers in a package proposal, which they entirely rejected.

BDS continues to propose measly salary increases that would leave members severely underpaid compared to other public defenders, absurd healthcare proposals, and discretion to entirely eliminate telecommuting, requiring staff return to an ill equipped office where managers are consistently absent. Most concerning recently is a rise in discipline of

members without just cause protections yet in place. BDS staff have proudly provided excellent public defense representation to New Yorkers since 1996.

Meanwhile, in Harlem, Neighborhood Defender Service Inc. (NDS Inc.) promises to provide “the highest quality legal representation through community-based, holistic,

public defense.” Members of the NDS Harlem Union— UAW Local 2325, sounded the alarm at a lunch-hour informational picket on Thursday, highlighting that unsustainable caseloads, low pay, and high staff turnover are seriously jeopardizing NDS’ stated mission. The NDS Union kicked off contract negotiations in May 2023 with hopes that NDS would fulfill its promise to Uptown residents and address these pressing issues. After three months at the bargaining table, however, NDS continues to ignore these issues and drag its feet. This picket was the culmination of a national week of action for all three NDS units (NDS Harlem, NDS Detroit, and NDS Texas).p

REAL ESTATE AGENTS WANTED:

It's time to make a career choice that you will

Workers’ Rights

What Barbie Can Teach Us About

the Gender Wage Gap

continued from page 1

paid less than their male counterparts. For example, only 22 percent of astronomers and physicists and only 39 percent of lawyers are women. The fact that so few women work in these high-paying jobs contributes to the existence of a persistent gender wage gap that harms both women and their families throughout their lives.

The fact that so few women work in these high-paying jobs contributes to the existence of a persistent gender wage gap that harms both women and their families.

Moreover, while the few women who do work in these jobs are typically earning more than other women, they, too, generally earn less than their male counterparts. In fact, in nearly every single U.S. occupation, working women will usually face a wage gap caused by a range of factors, including outright discrimination and caregiving responsibilities that tend to fall heaviest on women.

Men are more likely than women to work in high-paying jobs

The typical woman working full time, year-round earns 84 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts; and for all women workers, regardless of hours or weeks worked, that figure dips to 77 cents. One of the core drivers behind this gender wage gap is occupational segregation, by which women—most acutely, Black women and Latinas—are overrepresented in low-paid work, while men are overrepresented in high-paid work. This is the result of cultural norms and biases about the role of different groups of workers and policy choices.

In fact, many of the same jobs represented by Barbies over the past few decades, such as lawyers, remain male dominated. Notably, when looking at the 10 highest-paying occupations—defined by dollar terms—in the United States, white men account for at least half of all workers. By contrast, among the 10 lowest-paying occupation, women and men of color account for, at a mini-

ers.

Indeed, within many highpowered industries, disparities in representation worsen at the highest levels of the occupation, even when compared with the striking disparities that already exist in these professions as a whole. For instance, while 39 percent of lawyers are women, only 19 percent of equity partners— lawyers with ownership shares of law firms—are women. And while there are many types of doctors, women tend to be underrepresented among physicians and surgeons, some of the highest-paying occupations.

The gender wage gap exists across most fields, including high-paying occupations

It is not just the typical working woman who experiences a pay gap; women in well-paid occupations do as well. For example, female astronomers and physicists earn just 84 cents for every $1 earned by men, while female lawyers earn just 80 cents for every $1 earned by their male counterparts. Similarly, female reporters and journalists earn 88 cents for every $1 earned by male reporters and journalists. Even when men and women are equally represented in an occupation, such as actors, or when women are overrepre-

sented, such as writers and authors, they likely experience a pay gap.

Conclusion

To some, Barbie is emblematic of aspirations for gender equity in the workplace. As more people see women of all backgrounds—including race, ethnicity, religion, and gender identity—in high-wage roles, cultural norms and expectations should change. But policymakers have a critical role to play in this by creating pathways for more women to enter and stay in male-dominated occupations, including through investing in child care, creating pathways into STEM education, and ensuring these jobs are safe and free from harassment. Additionally, lawmakers must invest in work where women are overrepresented by raising the minimum wage and providing universal access to family and medical leave. Only then can we take a meaningful step toward closing the gender wage gap.p The authors would like to thank Kelly McCoy, Sarah Nadeau, and Anona Neal for their helpful feedback and assistance.

Estate Planning Guide

Getting Your Financial House in Order: The Three Essential Elements of an Estate Plan

BY PEARL PHILLIP

If there is one gift you can give to those you love, it is getting your financial house in order. A comprehensive estate plan is vitally important, yet many put it off until it is too late.

You may not realize you already have an estate plan, but it differs from what you intended. If you fail to create a comprehensive plan for your estate and assets, the state will do it for you - and the people you love may not be happy with the results.

Why not make this the year you finally create that estate plan? It may not be a pleasant subject, but life and death are unpredictable. Knowing that you have a written plan for your estate will give you and the people you love the peace of mind, and here are the essential elements that the plan should include.

A Written Will

A written will is the cornerstone of any comprehensive estate plan and is generally the best place to start. If you do not yet have a will in place, contact an attorney and get one put together.

You will want to prepare for the meeting with the attorney, bringing as much documentation as possible about your assets and their desired disposition. If you are working with an estate planning law firm, you can complete the other elements of your plan when drawing up your will,

simplifying the process and reducing the time the whole thing takes.

A Durable Power of Attorney

The next essential element of your estate plan is the durable power of attorney. You may not want to think about it, but deciding who can make decisions for you if you become disabled is very important, both for your well-being and that of your overburdened family members.

Once the durable power of attorney is in place, the person you name will be empowered to make critical decisions if you become disabled or cannot communicate. Hopefully, this part of your estate plan will never kick into place, but having it established will help you breathe easier.

A Living Will

The third and final part of your comprehensive estate plan is a living will, which

is vitally important. Medical advances have allowed patients to live longer, but not always better, lives, and it is crucial to think about what you want the medical authorities to do - and not do.

Would you want to be kept alive on a ventilator? Do you prefer robust life support or a more natural approach to death? Again these are not pleasant subjects, but they are important. The purpose of the living will is to lay out your wishes, removing any ambiguity and making it easier for your loved ones to make critical decisions on your behalf.

A comprehensive written estate plan is essential in preparing for your future. You might not want to think about it, but the estate plan you create will need to go into effect someday, and the sooner you lay it all out, the sooner you can get on with living your life to the fullest. p

Study Finds 1 in 4 Americans Recognize a Greater Need For Estate Planning Due to Inflation

Caring.com, a leading senior living referral service and the nation’s top site for senior care reviews, published its annual Wills & Estate Planning Study that explores the prevalence of estate planning in the U.S. and the reasons Americans do or do not engage in this end-of-life planning process. In the 2023 survey, responses from over 2,400 American adults indicated that only 34% have a will – albeit an increase of 3% since 2022 and 6% since 2020.

The study, which highlights the differences in attitudes towards estate planning among various age, socioeconomic and racial groups, found that inflation has had a disproportionately larger impact on younger Americans’ views of estate planning. While 54% of young Americans (ages 18 to 34) say inflation changed their views on estate planning, only 32% of Americans ages 55 and older say their views changed.

Likewise, 35% of Black Americans say inflation changed their views on estate planning, compared to only 27% of Hispanic Americans and 25% of White Americans. Overall, 26% of all American adults now see a greater need to establish an estate plan due to inflation.

While many see a greater need for endof-life planning, certain demographics are less likely to have an estate plan than in

continued on page 4

Health Care Directives: What You Need to Know

When you become too frail or sick to make your own decisions on end-of-life health care, the emotional strain is passed on to your family or loved ones. Not only can this cause incredible stress, but the avenue they take may not be the route you had in mind. Be open and honest about your final wishes.

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.

Choosing an Estate Attorney

Organizing your estate can be overwhelming without the help of an expert. With the assistance of an estate planning attorney, you can discuss your vision for your assets before death. Don’t risk creating a plan that doesn’t specify your decisions to the exact details.

If your loved one was neglected or abused in a Nursing Home or assisted living facility, financial compensation may be available.

855-768-8845

One in six residents in nursing homes and community facilties were neglected last year resulting in thousands of families experiencing trauma, mental illness, medical emergencies, and even death. Nursing home abuse and neglect is real.

Has your loved one experienced any of these or other types of abuse?

•Bedsores

•Choking/Death

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•Fractured Bones

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Experience matters. The lawyer you hire does make a difference. Schedule a consultation now.

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 24hour 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.

What Happens If You Do Not Have An Advance Directive?

If you do not have an advance directive and you are unable to make decisions on your own, the state laws where you live will determine who may make medical decisions on your behalf. This is typically your spouse, your parents if they are available, or your children if they are adults. If you are unmarried and have not named your partner as your proxy, it’s possible they could be excluded from decisionmaking. If you have no family members, some states allow a close friend who is familiar with your values to help. Or they may assign a physician to represent your best interests.

Legal Help

Think of your advance directives as living documents that you review at least once each year and update if a major life event occurs.

If you have questions regarding health care directives, call the experienced professionals at the Law Office of Figeroux & Associates. To schedule an appointment, call 855-768-8845 or visit www.askthelawyer.us p

When searching for a specialized attorney, it’s important to chat with a few different experts in your area. Make sure you feel comfortable in their office as the discussions of finances and final wishes can be intimate. Once you find several attorneys to interview for the role, here are some questions you should ask before deciding:

How Long Have They Been Practicing Estate Planning Law?

Many general attorneys will advertise that estate planning is a part of their practice. They can be a great help when creating legal documents like a will, health care directives and power of attorney. However, if your financial situation is more complicated, an experienced estate planning lawyer will have better knowledge of the ever-changing laws and knows how to protect your legacy.

You should also know how long they have been in practice. Someone who has extensive experience in the industry has likely discovered flaws in previous cases and has learned how to correct them. Ensuring your final wishes are in good hands is great peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.

Do They Regularly Update Plans?

To stay on top of your estate, find an attorney who offers an updating and maintenance program. The service may cost more, but they will contact you throughout the year and discuss new techniques, life-changing events which may impact your plans and alterations to laws. Working with a lawyer who stays in contact with you about your estate plan ensures your documents will be up-to-date when they’re needed.

How Do They Charge?

Estate planning is necessary to prepare your family before your death. Ask about the fees the attorney charges. During the interview, find out if the fee is a fixed rate or hourly. You don’t want to be surprised with unexpected fees.

Ready to start your estate planning? call the experienced professionals at the Law Office of Figeroux & Associates. To schedule an appointment, call 855-7688845 or visit www.askthelawyer.us p

Planning Succession for Your Business

Succession planning involves creating a plan for someone to either own or run your business after you retire, become disabled, or die. In simple terms, succession planning is the process of passing control of the business to others. Here are some steps to take for succession planning:

Find Successor

If you are passing the business to a family member, you may consider transferring ownership through your estate planning process. Often, however, new management comes from your pool of existing employees. If you have a larger business (such as an LLC or a corporation), succession planning involves preparing people for management and leadership roles in order to replace you or other managers when the time arises.

Finding your replacement is difficult so plan ahead, it is best to start early. Leaders are not always easy to find and it takes time to mentor someone into a management role. You will need to identify potential successors in your family or among employees. You can hire from outside the company, but it’s helpful to groom someone already in your business, over a period of time, so the transition to

new leadership will be smooth.

Train Successor

Once you have successors identified, deliberately create a training plan to ensure that everyone involved has time to learn the skills, gather the information, and practice the leadership roles critical to the future success of the business.

Whether you are transferring a business to a family member or you are promoting

employees into leadership roles, you need to plan ahead.

A succession plan takes into consideration the development of future leaders’ skills and abilities. The plan should deliver a return on your business’s training investment by providing for your successors’ advancement while simultaneously ensuring your successors don’t leave your business. Even if someone leaves, a cur-

rent employee should be ready to step into the vacated role. As the need arises, with good succession planning, employees or family members are ready for new leadership roles.

Ease Tax Exposure

Tax exposure arises when one generation gives way to the next generation in a closely-held family business. In this case, succession planning and estate planning become intertwined by the family. Multiple types of taxes must be considered when planning this type of succession, including:

•Income tax

•Gift tax

•Generation-skipping tax

•Estate tax

Start family succession planning sooner, rather than later, because starting sooner will give you more flexibility with your planning. Consult an attorney and an accountant about putting the proper estate documents in place, especially for succession planning in a family business.p

Source: sba.gov

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 special-needs 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 moneymanagement program may be critically important since it will be the only future path to protecting eligibility for benefits. It will provide additional funds for a broader scope of care and create a financial resource should benefits become re-

stricted 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 specialneeds 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

are less likely to have an estate plan than in years past. Hispanic Americans are the least likely racial demographic to have a will, with only 23% saying they have an estate plan in 2023 – this is a decrease of 17% since 2022 and 39% since 2021. Additionally, findings show that young adults are nearly as likely as middle-aged adults to have a will—26% of Americans ages 18 to 34 said they have a will, compared to 27% of Americans ages 35 to 54.

“Inflation is causing the public to think more about their financial futures, and for many people, this means that they are thinking about end-of-life planning,” says Jim Rosenthal, CEO of Caring.com. “Yet we haven’t seen a significant uptick in estate planning, with too many people simply putting off this crucial piece of financial planning. More education is needed to help Americans understand the importance of estate planning — and the consequences for their loved ones if they fail to do so.”

The survey asked respondents without wills what would motivate them to create one – 41% said they are waiting until they have a health crisis, and 1 in 4 said nothing would motivate them to plan their estate. When those who do have a will were asked what prompted them to create one, 28% say retirement, 26% say death of a loved one, and 22% say family expansion.

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3 Ways to Earn Some Spare Cash to Help Pay Your Mortgage Down

BY EQUITY SMART REALTY INC

Amortgage is one of the most expensive purchases you'll make in your life, and for many the idea of being indebted to it for years can seem like quite a burden. However, while you won't necessarily be able to pay off your home with instant savings, there are ways that you can pay it down more quickly. If you're wondering how to drum up some extra money for your mortgage, you may want to consider the following options.

Refinance Your Mortgage

One of the best ways to get a hold of extra funds is by lowering the amount you owe, and refinancing can be a way to do this. Since the interest rate on your mortgage adds up to additional money spent over time, getting a lower rate can easily minimize your monthly mortgage payment. It's just important to be aware of all the costs associated with refinancing beforehand so that you can be sure the choice will result in money saved and an improved financial outlook.

Review Your Budget

Budget may be a dirty word for many people, but when it comes to scrimping for your home, it may be one of the best weapons you have in paying down your mortgage. Instead of looking elsewhere, sit down and review your budget to ensure your expenditures aren't out of line with your income. It may seem too good to be true but, in all likelihood, you'll be able to find a few places you can cut back for a little extra money each month.

Get A Second Job

It may not be the best option if you're already working hard at your day job, but getting a job on the side can end up being a great way to find extra cash without limiting your lifestyle.

Whether you decide to work in a restaurant or pick up a freelance gig on the side, there are plenty of options that may quickly add up to a morerapidly reduced principal. You may even want to find something you already enjoy so it feels less like work.

Guidance

The idea of paying down your home more quickly may seem out of reach, but by re-considering your budget and considering other employment, you may be able to hustle up some additional funds for your investment. If you're preparing for home ownership and are considering your mortgage options, you may want to contact one of our professionals for more information. Call 888-670-6791.p

Lawsuit Challenges Florida Law Making It a Felony to Drive Certain Immigrants Into the State

BY EMMA WINGER

At the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has made it a felony to transport a person into the state who hasn’t been inspected by immigration authorities. Effective July 1, driving a broad and poorly defined class of immigrants into Florida is a crime. But a new lawsuit seeks to stop the law, which makes everyday life incredibly difficult for immigrants, their families, and their communities.

The lawsuit argues that the law – Section 10 of Florida Senate Bill 1718 – violates the U.S. Constitution for two reasons.

First, the Florida legislature violated the U.S. Constitution when it assumed the role of the federal government by enacting its own immigration laws and conducting immigration enforcement.

Second, the law violates the Constitution because the words used in the law are vague. It is unclear what the law means when it says “inspected” by immigration authorities. Therefore, it doesn’t give fair notice of who cannot be transported. Because the law is unclear, this will lead to arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.

The lawsuit was filed in a Florida federal court by a coalition of organizations on behalf of the Farmworkers Association of Florida (FWAF) and a diverse group of individuals. Each plaintiff will be harmed under this illegal provision.

A U.S. citizen grandmother fears traveling with her grandson, who has a pending application for immigration status.

The director of a Georgia nonprofit worries she must stop driving immigrants to Florida for their scheduled medical ap-

pointments. A Catholic deacon can no longer safely bring immigrant parishioners to their immigration interviews in Florida. A mixed-immigration status family cannot travel the state together.

These plaintiffs are all at risk of arrest, mandatory detention, and ultimately a felony conviction for going about their daily lives—and helping others.

FWAF staff have been forced to field countless calls from

anxious members worried that they might commit a felony if they drive with a colleague to work. And FWAF is likely to lose members, as immigrants are pushed out of the state to find work and put roots down elsewhere.

In response, DeSantis’ office has accused these plaintiffs of being “human smugglers.”

The vitriol and hate behind the law is evident.

The harms are far-reaching.

Florida’s economy is likely to suffer as it loses essential workers and tourism travelers. The filing of the lawsuit is just the first step. Federal court litigation can be slow. To stop enforcement of the law while the litigation proceeds, plaintiffs will need to file a motion for a preliminary injunction. They will have to show that they are likely to win the case and will be irreparably harmed if the court does not intervene now. Then it will be up to the court to decide. Lawsuits are always a last resort. But when a state – led by a governor who has made antiimmigrant policies the centerpiece of his political ambitions – enacts an unconstitutional law, litigation is sometimes the only option. It will be up to the courts to ensure that Florida respects the Constitution and protects the rights of everyone who travels into the state.p

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

America Is

Falling

Behind/ continued from page 1

born workers who have come to the United States to study or work but who may have difficulty receiving or renewing U.S. work visas to stay. In addition to expanding Canada’s startup visa, the initiative will create an open work permit p for H-1B visa holders in the United States.

“There’s no question … that we are in a global race for the same pool of talent with competitors around the entire world,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, announcing the initiative in June. “In my view, Canada’s winning that race… but I think we can win it by an even larger margin.”

This is hardly a one-off for Canada. Nor is Canada alone in its efforts to recruit immigrants. For years, many nations across the world have been introducing policies to attract immigrants, who are crucial to these countries’ efforts to support their aging populations and compete in the global economy.

Meanwhile, the United States, which faces the same looming workforce shortages—particu-

larly in the STEM and healthcare sectors—continues to rest on its laurels, relying on a decades-old immigration system that no longer meets our needs as a nation. As a result, America now has a smaller share of immigrants than many other countries, a notion once unthinkable in this “nation of immigrants.”

In 2021, just 13.7% of the U.S. population was foreign-born. By comparison, many countries that have been launching new and innovative immigration policies have become home to larger shares of immigrants. Below are examples from a few countries that have created new visa programs to

attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and international students.

Australia’s Immigrant Population

29.1% of the Australian population in 2021 was foreignborn. The country has instituted a startup visa program for entrepreneurs under 55 years old, granting them a streamlined path to residency and allowing their partners and children to work and study in the country. In addition, starting in the mid–1990s, Australia began expanding its skills-based immigration system and investing in international student recruitment. It is

currently working on aligning post-graduate work permits with the country’s specific skill needs.

New Zealand’s Immigrant Population

Immigrants made up more than 26% of New Zealand’s population in 2020. The country launched a startup visa in 2014 that now may waive the investment fee for entrepreneurs in science or information technology. It also allows their partners and dependents to work and study as nationals and offers residency after two years.

New Zealand also launched a three-year open work visa for international students that does not require a job offer to stay after graduation. And this year, it is removing caps on the number of skilled workers who can obtain residency, an attempt to help businesses fill labor shortages.

Canada’s Immigrant Population

23% of the Canadian population in 2021 was foreign-born. Its startup visa, made permanent in 2018, allows entrepre-

neurs with Canadian investments to receive government support and tax credits. Recipients of Canada’s startup visa also have immediate access to permanent residency that includes five founders and their families.

The country has also implemented a number of programs to attract—and, critically, to keep—international students, also offering a three-year open work visa upon graduation and eligibility for permanent residency after one year of work. Canada’s fast-track visas for “high-end talent” have motivated dozens of U.S. companies to set up shop in the provinces. Those companies can obtain the talent they are unable to access on U.S. soil, where the number of visas for skilled workers is severely limited.

Israel’s Immigrant Population

Immigrants made up 20.9% of Israel’s population in 2020. Israel relaxed its longstanding Jewish ancestry requirement to attract entrepreneurs. Foreigners with approved business continued on page 14

Deal Results in Higher Wages, More Jobs, Equal Pay, A/C, MLK Day, Part-Time Rewards

WASHINGTON:

Today, the Teamsters reached the most historic tentative agreement for workers in the history of UPS, protecting and rewarding more than 340,000 UPS Teamsters nationwide. The overwhelmingly lucrative contract raises wages for all workers, creates more full-time jobs, and includes dozens of workplace protections and improvements. The UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee unanimously endorsed the five-year tentative agreement.

“Rank-and-file UPS Teamsters sacrificed everything to get this country through a pandemic and enabled UPS to reap record-setting profits. Teamster labor moves America. The union went into this fight committed to winning for

our members. We demanded the best contract in the history of UPS, and we got it,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “UPS has put $30 billion in new money on the table as a direct result of these negotiations. We’ve changed the game, battling it out day and night to make sure our members won an agreement that pays strong wages, rewards their labor, and doesn’t require a single concession. This contract sets a new standard in the labor movement and raises the bar for all workers.”

“UPS came dangerously close to putting itself on strike, but we kept firm on our demands. In my more than 40 years in Louisville representing members at Worldport — the largest UPS hub in the country — I have never seen a national

contract that levels the playing field for workers so dramatically as this one. The agreement puts more money in our members’ pockets and establishes a full range of new protections for them on the job,” said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman. “We stayed focused on our members and fought like hell to get everything that fulltime and part-time UPS Teamsters deserve.”

“Rank-and-file members served on the committee for the first time, so we got to show up every day to support our fellow Teamsters and share their stories,” said Brandy Harris, a part-time UPS Teamster with Local 174 in Seattle and a member of the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee. “Our hard work has paid off — from those members and leaders negotiating for more at the table to my sisters and brothers building a credible strike threat around the country. Our union was organized and we were relentless. We’ve hit every goal that UPS Teamster members wanted and asked for with this agreement. It’s a ‘yes’ vote for the most historic contract we’ve ever had.”p

America Is Falling Behind/ continued from page 13

For highlights of the tentative 20232028 UPS Teamsters National Master Agreement, visit www.workersworldtoday.com

plans are eligible for government support and a 27-month, extendable residency permit.

Germany’s Immigrant Population

In Germany, 18.4% of the population in 2022 was foreignborn. Germany’s startup visa requires no threshold for investment, just a plan showing the positive economic potential for the country. It provides government support, gives dependents work authorization, and offers a settlement permit after three years. Germany is also one of several countries that offers free tuition to international students at public universities and is building out a roster of degree programs taught in Englih.

Among its new immigration policies is the Skilled Immigration Act, which expands opportunities for non-EU nationals to work in Germany and even includes permission to live and work while looking or training for a job.

The United Kingdom’s Immigrant Population

In the United Kingdom, 16.8% of the population in 2021 was foreign-born. The UK’s Innovator Founder visa requires proof that the business is new and scalable and that participants support themselves and pay a healthcare surcharge. It also offers unlimited threeyear terms with the possibility of settlement.

By comparison, the United States does not have a startup visa program. Its temporary visa program for high-skill workers, the H-1B, is outdated and insufficient to meet demand and its percentage of the world’s international student population is declining, from 27.4% in 2000 to 15% in 2022.

The United Nations reported that in 2015 the share of governments with a policy to raise the level of immigration of highly skilled workers reached 44 percent, up from just 22 percent in 2005. The United States, however, was not in that group. Without drastic policy changes, the United States risks quickly falling behind other nations in the global competition for talent. p

Image courtesy : AFL-CIO

$75 can be used as a credit towards our Paralegal Program

5,000 Unionizing Commercial Production Workers Have Certified Majority, Will Win Voluntary Recognition

Freelance workers in production departments for TV commercials across the United States are set to win voluntary recognition of their union after a neutral third party confirmed a majority of these workers signed cards indicating they wish to unionize with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

The organizing workers include an estimated 5,000 Production Assistants (PA’s), Line Producers, Production Supervisors, Assistant Production Supervisors and Bidding Producers whose work facilitates TV Commercials seen by millions each year and is produced under the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP). These workers came together to address low pay, unsustainable hours, lack

of reasonable rest, lack of employer-funded healthcare and retirement benefits, ineligibility for overtime pay, and limited access to safety and training, among other issues.

The Stand With Production group is also set to become the largest contingent of produc-

tion department workers and entry level Production Assistants within IATSE. While “crew” positions like Production Designers/Art Directors, Camera Operators, Hair and Makeup Artists, Script Supervisors, Grips, Lighting, Props, and Paint have historically been represented on TV commercial sets by IATSE, workers in the production department historically have not. IATSE has announced it plans to charter a new national Local Union for these workers.

From the beginning, the Stand With Production movement has been about finding a way to open a dialogue with the powers that be and codify those solutions into written agreements, said IATSE President Matthew Loeb. "That will now become a reality for thousands of workers.“p

Barboncino Workers Make History, Becoming First Unionized Pizzeria in NYC

In a unanimous election victory on Wednesday, workers at Barboncino, a popular pizzeria in Crown Heights, became the first unionized pizzeria in New York City. After seeking voluntary recognition by management in November 2022, workers at the store filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board on May 22 of this year.

Frequently lauded as one of Brooklyn's best pizzerias, workers decided to form a union to advocate for better wages, more control over scheduling, clear disciplinary procedures and a "no tolerance" sexual harassment policy. They hope that their

efforts will improve conditions not only in their industry more broadly, a major sector in NYC, and one rife with labor abuses.

Mike Kemmett, a bartender at Barboncino, told amNY that Barboncino Workers United now belongs to the larger labor movement in the United States.

“I’m proud to be part of the fight to bring order and justice to the nation’s fastest-growing, least-protected industry,” Kemmett said. “My heart belongs to Barboncino Workers United.”p

Millions Across the World Live with Low Back Pain, but Addressing Major Risk Factors like Smoking, Obesity and Workplace Ergonomics Could Curb the Trend, Research Shows

BY JAIMIE STEINMETZ & MANUELA FERREIRA THE CONVERSATION

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in the world, with over 600 million people living with the condition. This is one of the key takeaways of our June 2023 study published in the journal The Lancet Rheumatology.

Our systematic analysis synthesizes data from approximately 500 studies throughout the world over 30 years to estimate the global burden of low back pain, broken down by country, year, age, sex and severity. “Burden” refers to a combination of how common low back pain is and how

much health loss it leads to. We measured low back pain from people age 5 onward.

Low back pain has ranked first among causes of disability for the last three decades. Back pain, however, is not inevitable, even if that sometimes feels like the case.

These findings are part of a larger project called the Global Burden of Disease Study, which aims to quantify all health loss globally.

Our study found that if society could directly address three major risk factors – obesity, smoking and workplace ergonomic factors – it could cut the burden of low back pain by 39%.

Smoking has been previously associated with dam-

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aged microcirculation of the spinal structures, for example, the discs and joints as well as to weakening of the bones. But researchers also know that smoking is often associated with other lifestyle factors, including physical inactivity, obesity and poor sleep, all of which have been linked to an increased risk of low back pain. Similarly, obesity is associated with other unhealthy lifestyle factors, all of which can increase the risk of low back pain. Obesity is also linked to an increased load on the spinal struc-

tures, predisposing them to injury, and a systemic inflammatory response.

Why it matters

Low back pain is influenced by many factors, including biological, social and psychological. The anatomical complexity of the human spine means that in most cases, a simple structural cause such as a single joint or muscle cannot be identified, even with sophisticated diagnostic imaging.

This means that diagnoses are made largely on the basis of reported symptoms. And whereas most cases of low back pain are short-lived, with recovery experienced within the first six weeks of pain onset, one-third of cases will become persistent and may last for years. This persistence contributes to the significant burden of this condition.

As part of this work, we estimated how many people are likely to experience low back pain over the next 30 years if little changes. We predict that a whopping 843 million people around the world will be living with the condition. The problem of low back pain isn’t going away unless policymakers intervene.

Although a person’s sex

does not directly determine the risk of low back pain, the condition is much more common among females. Our study found a global total of 395 million females reporting back pain, compared with 225 million males.

This discrepancy could be explained by differences in care-seeking behavior, as well as in access to health care, between men and women.

The rates of occurrence of low back pain also differ depending on how old you are. It is a common myth that low back pain is most common in working-age adults, but in fact rates are highest for people in their 80s. Older adults often are overlooked when it comes to care.

Older adults with low back pain have limited access to evidence-based treatments that encourage a healthy lifestyle and recovery, such as those that support patients to manage their own symptoms. They are also less likely to recover from severe pain and disability than their younger counterparts, are more prone to develop long-term, persistent symptoms and are at an increased risk of falls.

What still isn’t known For those with low back pain, better and more effective ways are needed to manage it. Studies show that many current treatments either don’t work or do very little. These treatments include pain relievers and some surgical procedures. Given our finding that hundreds of millions of people

with low back pain, it’s clear that more research is needed to identify effective preventive strategies. p

Jaimie Steinmetz is a Lead Research Scientist in Population Health, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington. Manuela Ferreira is a Professor of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney. Read more stories at www.workersworldtoday.com

live

Worldwide,

close to twice as many women as men report low back pain. Because of the common misconception that lower back pain mainly afflicts middle-aged working people, the conditions is often overlooked in older adults.

Sleep Divorce: The Pros and Cons for Your Relationship

BY JENNINE ESTES ESTES THERAPY

Here at Estes Therapy, we work with a variety of relationship issues and sleep (or lack thereof) is a topic that can impact couples in a negative way. Sleep divorce, a term that doesn’t sound so nice, is an option for couples who struggle to sleep in the same bed together. In this article, we will go over what sleep divorce is, how it can help improve your relationship and the pros and cons of trying sleep divorce.

What is sleep divorce?

Frequently couples have difficulty sleeping together for a variety of reasons – snoring, tossing and turning, sleep terrors, different sleep schedules, insomnia due to anxiety, and more. Couples attempt to re-

solve the problem but continue to struggle sleeping together. When they cannot resolve the issue, they make a joint decision to sleep separately to improve their sleep quality, called sleep divorce. Although the term sounds harsh, it simply means sleeping in two different locations. This has been around for years, but the term is new in

social media. The main agenda of sleep divorce is prioritizing the quality of sleep. Sleep divorce is not after one of those nasty nighttime arguments and one person grabs their pillow and heads to the guest bedroom. It is not a wall built from disconnection and the marriage coming to a halt. It is a clear decision made by both people with the goal to

have healthy sleep.

With clear communication and a secure relationship, sleep divorce can be extremely healthy. The more secure a couple is in the relationship, the easier it is for the couple to feel connected when in separate rooms.

Can a sleep divorce improve your relationship?

Yes. Sleep divorce can improve relationships drastically. Sleep is an essential part of our overall well-being, especially with mental health. When people struggle with their sleep, they are unable to regulate emotionally, they have difficulty having patience with one another, resentment builds, and arguments increase, all of which cause a wedge in the relationship. The more rested the body is, the better people

can regulate their emotions, have empathy toward others, and communicate more effectively.

What are the pros and cons of trying a sleep divorce?

Pros:

•Improve the relationship: Quality of life and the relationship will improve with a sufficient amount of sleep. Being well-rested helps increase the ability to emotionally regulate, decrease irritability, improve mood, have patience with others, and problem-solve better. •Intentional intimacy: Some couples have spontaneous intimacy in the bedroom, whereas sleep divorce forces couples to make emotional and sexual intimacy a priority. Couples create intentional intimacy moments, such as drinking coffee in the morning together, continued on page 20

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Love, Health & Travel

Sleep Divorce/ continued from page 19 and create intentional rituals for nighttime connection talks.

•Overall better sleep quality: When sleeping separately, individuals can create their own tranquility and bedtime routine without disruption from their partner. They can have quiet, create their rituals, and get sound sleep.

•Prevents resentment: When sleep is disrupted by a partner’s insomnia, snoring, or different sleep schedules, resentment builds quickly. Sleep divorce prevents resentment from growing.

•Awareness of bigger issues: When sleep health is being addressed in relationships, one or both people may become aware of a bigger issue that impacts their sleep. By sleeping in separate rooms, individuals can actively work on their insomnia, seek counseling for anxiety, get medical aid for sleep apnea, and get to the root of the issue with insomnia.

Cons:

•Shame: There is some shame

around sleep divorce and often couples hide the fact that they sleep separately. Shame will continue to grow. It is important to talk about it and acknowledge the sleeping dynamic as a normal part of their life. The more you talk about it, the more power you take away from the shame.

•Judgment: There is still a cultural expectation in the U.S. that if people sleep separately, there must be a problem in the relationship, or an end is in sight. Be confident in your decision to sleep separately and educate your friends and fam-

ily about the positive outcomes.

•Lack of connection: Starting and ending the day with your partner is extremely bonding. Sleeping in the same bed allows room for closeness, intimacy, spontaneous conversations, and connection. Couples have more opportunities to talk. It is a vulnerability that we share, and sleep divorce removes this element.

•Used for armor: Sleep is a vulnerable space for people and when in distress, sleeping separately is often one of the quickest reactions people do in

conflict; they storm out of the room to sleep in the guest bedroom as a statement of frustration or to put a stop to fighting. Sleep divorce can gradually or abruptly come about as a result of hurt feelings and the goal is to create a barrier due to emotional pain. If a couple uses sleep divorce as armor from conflict and disconnection, it will only make things worse. It erodes the relationship connection quickly. Relationship insecurities will increase, and conflict will get worse.

When handled properly, sleep divorce can be extremely healthy for couples. If you or your partner are considering sleep divorce, reach out to one of our therapists to help navigate through it. p

About 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 permission.

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Frequently couples have difficulty sleeping together for a variety of reasons – snoring, tossing and turning, sleep terrors, different sleep schedules, insomnia due to anxiety, and more.

School Therapists Want a Better Contract Deal. The UFT Wants Them to Give Up.

BY CLAUDIA IRIZARRY APONTE THE CITY

AUnited Federation of Teachers chapter representing school therapists stood alone among chapters in rejecting their union’s tentative contract agreement with Mayor Eric Adams earlier this month — and now say UFT leadership is pressuring them to accept the deal in a revote.

In voting down the contract, chapter members expected the next step would be for their bargaining unit — which also includes audiologists, nurses and supervisors — to negotiate with city labor officials for a collective bargaining agreement that addresses their specific concerns, as happened in their last contract. Instead, chapter leaders and members say, UFT President Michael Mulgrew is urging a new vote without further talks or changes.

The 2,900 therapists and nurses are a small unit within

the 120,000-member union, whose members include teachers, social workers and other city Department of Education employees. Three-quarters of the UFT membership approved the contract, the union announced earlier this month.

Within the unit, 59% of all members rejected the deal, which guarantees raises of 17.58% to 20.42% by 2026. Most of those dissenting votes came from occupational and physical therapists, who make up the majority of the unit’s members. Two-thirds of the therapists who returned ballots opposed the tentative agreement.

The independent American Arbitration Association conducted, tabulated and certified the contract vote.

Concerns about salary gaps between therapists and teachers are a major source of contention, according to chapter leaders and rank-and-file members who spoke with THE CITY. The gap is consid-

erable: by January, a therapist with a master’s degree and 10 years of experience would earn $17,463 less annually than a teacher with the same credentials and experience, Chalkbeat reported, citing UFT documents. By rejecting the agreement, the unit voted to not receive raises, bonuses or other benefits that go into effect for teachers and paraprofessionals this summer, and to instead continue working under their expired contract.

Vote Again?

But the unit also represents nurses, audiologists, and nurse and therapist supervisors who are eager to ratify the new contract, according to Mulgrew.

Numerous members are asking for a revote, he wrote in a signed July 21 letter to chapter leadership in which he detailed efforts to split the nurses, audiologists and supervisors into their own unit so that in the future they are no longer tied in with the ther-

apists in contract votes.

“They are pushing hard to separate as soon as possible because they feel it is unfair that, although members of each of their chapters voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying the contract, they will not get the new contractual benefits because their particular contract failed to get a majority of the overall votes,” Mulgrew wrote.

“We are trying to get the city and DOE to come back to the bargaining table,” he asserted in the letter even as he highlighted demands from members for an immediate revote.

That position puts him at odds with the therapists’ leadership: By a vote of 5-1 with one abstention last week, their executive board decided against a revote.

In a meeting with the therapists’ chapter on Wednesday afternoon, Mulgrew made repeated attempts to persuade members to give up on pursuing a stronger contract and to

continued on page 22

UFT President Michael Mulgrew talks at City Hall about reaching a tentative contract agreement, June 13, 2023.Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

School Therapists/ continued from page 21

persuade them to join in a revote, claiming he had heard from 1,200 members who had demanded a new tally. Melissa Williams, the therapists’ chapter leader, asked Mulgrew for guidance on where and how the union’s constitution lays out rules for revotes.

“I’ve never had a chapter with this many people who are adamantly against the decision of their executive board,” Mulgrew said. He added: “We have to make a decision. If we decide not to do a revote, fine. But everyone needs to understand the consequences of not revoting.”

Or Bargain Again?

Mulgrew also urged members to give up on trying to get a better deal. “The city isn’t interested in getting back to the bargaining table right now,” he said, noting that other legal maneuvers could potentially take years. “I can’t express this clear enough to all of you. We don’t have an avenue to get

back to the bargaining table right now.”

Rank-and-file workers and union activists who spoke with THE CITY, however, said that union leadership should not entertain the prospect of a revote, but press on in trying to strike a better bargain with Adams.

Pursuing a revote of a certified election, Williams said, “calls into question the integrity of the entire process.

“I just feel bad for the people who took the time to vote,” she said in an interview with THE CITY. “I trusted that this vote

had integrity, now I see that it’s wrong. It feels like a moral injury, to be honest.”

UFT spokesperson Alison Gendar said in a statement that “more than 1,000” chapter members “have asked — through emails and phone calls — for the opportunity to hold a revote.”

”The UFT leadership is working with the chapter to figure out next steps,” Gendar added.

Vocal Dissent

This isn’t the first time that UFT occupational and physical therapists bucked the rest of

the union in rejecting a tentative contract deal: The chapter also rejected a tentative agreement in 2018 over wage concerns. On that occasion, UFT leadership returned to the bargaining table and notched modest additional raises.

A revote without fresh contract talks was never entertained as an option after the chapter rejected the agreement in 2018, three chapter members and two union activists told THE CITY.

One reason for the standoff now with Mulgrew, activists say, is that the union’s constitution does not lay out a procedure for renegotiating rejected contracts.

“The chapter voted, and the chapter voted pretty much 2to-1 against the contract, and to go to a revote sort of negates that process,” said chapter member and DOE physical therapist Chris Griffin, who noted she’s “not a huge ‘no’ advocate.”

Discussion of a revote “undermines that process, which was done according to estab-

lished rules,” she added.

Some therapists say they would like to see Mulgrew push harder to get the city back to the bargaining table.

“I believe he’s avoiding doing his job,” said a chapter member who asked to be identified only as “E” out of fear of retaliation from her bosses. “His job is to negotiate on our behalf, not to justify the city’s stance. So I feel like he’s using that to scare us into voting yes.”

Daniel Alicea, a teacher and UFT activist, told THE CITY that the union’s leadership should convene a constitutional convention that clearly lays out a renegotiation process for rejected contracts so that “things aren’t done arbitrarily and haphazardly.”

“If we acquiesce here, this can happen in local chapter elections, it can happen in our next general election — that if they’re not happy with the result, they will find some other means.”p

This story was published on July 7, 2023 by THE CITY.