A Newsletter for the Movement for Economic, Climate, and Racial Justice
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We are wrapping up this year’s legislative session with big progressive victories fought by our coalitions and partners who have been organizing tirelessly throughout the pandemic. New York has made monumental strides in protecting the health and dignity of workers across the state with the NY HERO Act and the Excluded Worker Fund, both of which are first-in-the-nation worker justice policies that can be a model for the entire country. We are excited with what we built this legislative session but movement building does not end on June 10th. We will continue to fight for economic, racial, and climate justice year-round including building our movement to #MakePollutersPay with the Climate and Community Investment Act. Before we know it, we will be back in Albany singing and chanting our way to justice.
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You can support our movement for economic, racial, and climate justice by donating to ALIGN.
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Investing in our Future with Green, Healthy Schools
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As New York City prepares for a full return to schools this fall, we must reimagine our schools to be more resilient to the challenges that children and school staff face including the ongoing climate catastrophe and the risk of dangerous Covid-19 variants spreading in our communities. We urge Mayor de Blasio to leave a lasting legacy with Green Healthy Schools by following up on his commitment to implement energy efficiency systems for New York City's public schools, prioritizing solar installation and HVAC air control systems in Environmental Justice communities. In addition, the next incoming Mayor can continue this crucial work by prioritizing reducing our city’s emissions, building safer and healthier environments for our school children, and creating thousands of good, union green jobs.
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Climate Works for All Press Conference on Green, Healthy Schools Report Launch with union leaders, education advocates, contractors, Environmental Justice Leaders, and Youth Leaders
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Our Climate Works for All coalition launched a report Creating Green, Healthy Schools: An Equitable Action Plan for the Next Mayor of New York City, which outlines how we can move towards sustainable, healthy communities by investing in installing solar and HVAC systems within our city’s schools. To do this, the report calls on the city to invest $1.5 billion towards solar and HVAC systems in schools over the next ten years. In a press conference, we were joined by the over 40 advocates that would make Green Healthy Schools a reality: union leaders , education advocates, contractors, Environmental Justice leaders, youth leaders and elected officials. Together, we can build a movement here in New York City to ensure that the next mayor invests in our children and future with Green, Healthy Schools. Read the press release here for more information on the press conference and report.
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Climate Jobs and Infrastructure, Paid by Corporate Polluters
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New Yorkers know that the climate crisis did not stop during the pandemic. On top of the pandemic, frontline communities are battling the threat of pollution, hurricanes, and heat waves. In many ways, the climate catastrophe has exacerbated the effects of COVD-19 in New York and across the country. That is why New Yorkers from across the state have been calling for the Climate and Community Investment Act to #MakePollutersPay and invest in building climate infrastructure that will get us good, career-track jobs for New Yorkers and closer to our climate goals. Executive Director Maritza Silva-Farrell spoke to City and State about the bill, "It’s not only about charging polluters, but also how do we actually invest these funds in the solutions that we have envisioned."
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New Yorkers are continue to push hard to gain commitments from NYS legislature to get this crucial bill signed. This past month, the NY Renews coalition members from across the state gathered in the Capitol to hold a mock funeral and “die-in” to mourn the lives already lost to the climate crisis, and to demand that the Governor and Legislature take action to prevent future loss of life. We’ve been fighting and organizing for months leading up to the point and we have made huge leaps in our advocacy. In these final days of the legislative session, we are asking you to push legislative leadership to walk the talk by committing to pass the CCIA.
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Implementing the Strongest Possible Protections for New Yorkers
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This legislative session, our NY Essential Workers Coalition delivered a huge win for the health and safety of New Yorkers with the passage of NY HERO Act into law. This first-in-the nation airborne infectious disease standard will not only provide strong enforceable standards for workers, but ensure a real voice for workers for issues in health and safety. As New York is reopening and mask mandates are being lifted, we are eager to work with the Department of Labor to implement in place the strongest protections and standards for workers across the state. In preparation of the implementation of the standards, the coalition will be holding training sessions so workers know how to use the tools of the NY HERO Act to ensure a healthy and safe workplace.
With the mask mandate lifted in New York, and variants continue to spread across the globe, the time for protections and the voice in the workplace is more important than ever. Dozens of organizations in the NY Essential Workers Coalition have already pushed back on the mask mandate lift with a letter sent to Governor Cuomo, Department of Labor, and Department of health. Executive Director Maritza Silva-Farrell, spoke to ABC 7 WKBW on the mask mandate lift: "It's putting employers at risks, employees at risk and communities at risk...it's important to stress that we are not out of the woods yet." Now is not the time to throw everything we learned about this virus out of the window. The NY Essential Workers Coalition will continue to fight for the health and safety of workers to ensure a safe Covid recovery for all New Yorkers.
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Amazon has used its outsized political and economic power to abuse workers and small businesses. We must stand up to big corporations like Amazon who continue to bully their way into communities. As Amazon touts its record gains to investors at this year’s annual shareholder meeting, it’s important to remember that its profits came with significant costs for workers, small businesses, communities, and our democracy at large. Days before Amazon’s shareholder meeting, we rallied alongside Athena partners at Blackrock HQ — one of Amazon’s largest shareholders — urging them to put a vote for our communities, not Amazon’s destructive agenda.” We’ve got #EyesOnAmazon’s biggest investors, who can rein in Amazon's monopoly power and hold them accountable to workers, small businesses, and our communities. Read more about the action here.
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The Vanguard of National Antitrust Movement is in New York
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Empty storefronts now line Main Streets and commercial districts across New York. What was once vibrant community business districts are now empty roadways for Amazon delivery trucks to pass through to their next delivery. For too long, New York’s small businesses, workers, and communities have been crushed by the big businesses like Amazon that bully their way into our neighborhoods. That is why a wide and diverse coalition of labor groups, businesses, and community organizations are pushing to hold big businesses accountable with the 21st Century Antitrust Act.
With the leadership of Senator Gianaris, this groundbreaking bill passed the NY Senate. If signed into law, this act would place New York as the vanguard for local movements to rein in corporate power. We urge the NY State Assembly to follow and pass this legislation immediately. In a press conference attended by over 70 advocates, Executive Director Maritza Silva-Farrell said, “By passing this legislation, the NY legislature will affirm the goal of antitrust law which is to prevent the abuse of power by monopolies.”
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Labor unions, community organizations, & business leaders celebrate the NYS Senate’s expected passage of the #21stCenturyAntiTrustAct.
There is huge momentum across the state and country to regulate businesses like Amazon. In a recent survey, nearly 80 percent of voters agreed that Amazon should be subject to greater regulation — and more than half support breaking it up. Every day, we lose more small businesses because of the abusive and anti-competitive tactics of Amazon and other monopolies, and workers continue to suffer from a race-to-the-bottom economy. This legislation helps rebalance the playing field for both small businesses and workers as New York tries to recover from this pandemic. New York needs to sign it into law now. Learn more about this legislation here.
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Executive Director Maritza Silva-Farrell
on City and State NY's Labor Power 100
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We are proud to have Executive Director Maritza Silva-Farrell as part of City and State NY’s Labor Power 100. This list highlights the advocates, union leaders, and government officials shaping New York’s fight to put more power in the hands of workers. We are proud to be joining a list that highlights the work of labor advocates who have been fighting for workers for decades, including many members of our NY Essential Workers Coalition who fought for the NY HERO Act: NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Vice President of CWA D1 Dennis Trainor, Pat Kane & Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez of NY State Nurses Association, Executive Director of NYCOSH Charlene Obernauer, and many, many more. This list signifies the strength of our coalition and the impact that NY HERO has made in New York State and across the country. We are proud to have built a movement with the advocates and organizations that represent millions of essential workers that keep our state moving. Read the full list here.
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Join Our Team:
Seeking an Experienced Campaign Coordinator!
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Join the team that’s winning a more just and sustainable New York! ALIGN is seeking a talented, motivated, and dedicated Campaign Coordinator to ignite momentum for new and developing campaigns. This full-time position is available immediately, and comes with a complete benefits package and a salary range of $60,000–68,000. Learn more about the position and application process on our website. We will be accepting applications through June 25 or until the position is filled.
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ALIGN has affordable shared office space available immediately for leasing in Lower Manhattan. Whether you're looking for one desk, five desks, or a convenient location to have mail delivered, ALIGN's office is a welcoming environment easily accessible by public transportation. Check out our online posting to learn more, or contact [email protected] for details.
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You can support our movement for economic, racial, and climate justice by donating to ALIGN.
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