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Newsletter for the Movement for Economic, Climate, and Racial Justice
 

We are witnessing only the beginning of the Supreme Court’s egregious attack on our democracy, pregnancy-capable people, and our planet. Decades of grassroots work is being undone by a court that unapologetically represents the interests of multinational corporations and wealthy, white men. We are building diverse coalitions that will put power back into people’s hands. Our New Yorkers for a Fair Economy coalition is bringing together communities, small businesses, and labor unions to fight against corporate greed. As steering committee members of the NY Renews coalition, we are building and winning pathways to create green, union jobs and a sustainable economy. The integrity of our country will continue to deteriorate unless we come together and fight the corporate greed, racism, and sexism that is at the root of the Court’s attack on our communities. This is the work that we’ve been doing, and will continue to do to move our country toward true justice.

TAKE ACTION

Save the Date: ALIGN’s 2022 Movement Builder Awards will be Wednesday, September 28.

 

Concerned about health and safety in your workplace? Form a NY HERO worker committee to have a voice on the job.

 
 

Bold Climate Action is Creating Green Union Jobs

Executive Director Maritza Silva-Farrell and State Climate Policy Coordinator Reyna Cohen at a climate bill signing with Governor Hochul.

With the West Virginia vs. EPA ruling, the Supreme Court has chosen the side of fossil fuel industries over the interests of the American people. The decision to curtail the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate power plants is another roadblock in combating the rapidly accelerating climate crisis. It’s time for New York to lead the way. The signing of the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act is the right step forward for climate action and creating a pathway for green career union jobs. This important legislation was signed as the State Climate Action Council concluded their scoping plan comments that will inform the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Thanks to advocates like you, New Yorkers sent 10,000 letters to the Climate Action Council to ensure that New York’s climate plan prioritizes the needs of workers and environmental justice communities. At the City level, our advocacy ensured that Mayor Adams made Green, Healthy Schools a priority with the inclusion of $900 million in the city budget. Even though that investment is no where near of what we need, it is a critical starting point to ensure that air ventilation and overall retrofits is implemented to make our public buildings efficient. Our window of opportunity is closing: we need to act and prevent more unnecessary climate destruction. We can’t rely on the Court to save us. Now is the time for our City and State leadership to act for the future of this planet.

 

Workers are Leading the Way.

Our Elected Leaders Must Follow.

Working families are bearing the brunt of the skyrocketing cost-of-living and inflation. Meanwhile, corporations are making record profits while wages and work conditions continue to deteriorate. It is no wonder that workers are stepping up to take back power. In the past 6 months, Starbucks workers have unionized over 180 stores. Chipotle workers in New York are organizing NY HERO worker health and safety committees to demand a greater voice in the workplace. Will our elected leaders step up in this moment for worker and economic justice? Our coalitions are putting economic justice solutions on the table so working families can survive and thrive. The Warehouse Worker Protection Act and stronger enforcement provisions for the NY HERO Act passed the legislature and await Governor Hochul’s signature. This coming session, we can pass anti-monopoly laws like the 21st Century Antitrust Act and raise the minimum wage in New York. This is a struggle in the workplace, the halls of the legislature, and the ballot box. This primary season, we need to elect leadership that will take a stand against corporations that abuse our communities, and fight alongside the workers that demand nothing less than dignity and respect.
 

 

ALIGN in the News

Executive Director Maritza Silva-Farrell spoke to Politico on the critical role labor unions play in our transition to a sustainable, green economy.

 

ALIGN celebrated the signing of the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act alongside labor unions, climate organizations, and elected officials. You can find press coverage on this victory in New York Daily News, CBS NY, and the Gothamist. 



Our Climate Works for All coalition won the groundbreaking Local Law 97 in 2019. If implemented properly, we can cut dirty building emissions and create tens of thousands of new jobs. Gotham Gazette covers the City Council’s funding of the law, and the next steps needed to ensure its effectiveness.

 

At ALIGN with our coalition, The New Yorkers for a Fair Economy, we have been advocating for local solutions by passing the 21st Century Antitrust Act, the most progressive anti-monopoly legislation in the country. Here’s John Oliver hilariously breaking down what “antitrust” even means, and why Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer should put federal antitrust laws on the floor to vote. 

 

In case you missed it…

 

We built and fought for the Warehouse Worker Protection Act with union partners RWDSU and Teamsters JC16, in collaboration with the Amazon Labor Union. New York Amsterdam News breaks down the importance of this bill to protecting and empowering workers. 


Our new report finds most NYC public schools with the worst ventilation woes are in areas lacking green infrastructure. Check out our Green, Healthy Schools report covered in am New York.

Alliance in Action

 

Teamsters Joint Council 16 - The Teamsters rallied with Freeport families to demand Governor Hochul veto A10002A/S8541A which would allow the Village of Freeport to alienate and discontinue the use of a youth sports field in favor of a reported Amazon warehouse. 

 

RWDSU - REI workers won the first unionized store in the country in March. Now, workers at REI in Berkeley, California, are forming a union. Support their efforts by signing this petition. 

 

NYC Central Labor Council - The Dancers and Stage Managers of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater have sent a letter to the Alvin Ailey Board and launched a letter-writing campaign to support their demand for a fair and equitable contract.

 

District Council 37 - Due to a union action by DC 37, 200 NYC Parks Department Jobs were restored. Read more about this victory here. 

 

NYC Environmental Justice Alliance - NYC-EJA testified for the City Council in support of the complete and equitable implementation of Local Law 97, which has the capacity to produce thousands of good green jobs for New Yorkers from traditionally underrepresented groups such as immigrants, women and Black and brown New Yorkers. Read their full testimony here. You can also read ALIGN’s testimony here.