 | | Denis Hughes, President | Ed Donnelly, Director | June 22, 2009
| Issue Nineteen
| President's Message Failure to Improve and Index Unemployment Means We Have Failed All New York
The unemployment numbers released by the NYS Department of Labor recently confirmed that New York’s working families are still reeling and the numbers of unemployed are still growing as the economic crisis continues to engulf the nation. The unemployment rate increased from 7.7 percent in April to 8.2 percent in May (its highest level since February 1993), and New York City's rate increased from 8.0 percent in April 2009 to 9.0 percent in May 2009 (highest since October 1997).
The state’s unemployment benefit remains capped at $405 per week and is the lowest of our surrounding states. This means working families who have lost employment during this crisis are receiving just over $10.00 an hour and are struggling to pay mortgages, rent, health bills, food and groceries, car loans and higher education expenses. Our benefit is shameful and it is time to address it now.
The failure of past administrations to index the unemployment benefit is the cause for many of the fiscal problems that many working families face today. Worse, the failure of this administration and legislature to enact an unemployment increase and indexation before adjourning will cause a colossal failure for all of New York’s working men and women well into the future.
The cries against indexation of the benefit ring hollow. The current political gridlock in Albany is exactly why annual indexation of the benefit is a must and a simple increase in the benefit falls short of what we need to do. Our state has already failed the countless thousands of working New Yorkers who have needed to rely on unemployment throughout this crisis, as we allowed the benefit to deteriorate over the last decade and failed to provide an increase over the last several years.
We can make up for the failure by making sure future generations of working New Yorkers do not face the same willful disregard of the unemployment system shown by past administrations.
We had several opportunities during this session, throughout the state budget process and while implementing federal stimulus assistance, to enact a meaningful unemployment increase and indexation. To date, our elected officials have not seized on these opportunities with the assumption that we had time.
Now, we are out of time. In the face of this economic crisis, with tens of thousands of working New Yorkers struggling and with the clarity of hindsight reminding us of why it is so important to keep our unemployment benefit up-to-date, there are no more excuses. Our leaders need to pass an unemployment benefit increase and indexation before they leave Albany. Denis M. Hughes Call to Action LABOR LOBBYISTS
DON’T MISS THE LAST LOBBYISTS MEETING OF THE SESSION
(We Hope)
Monday, June 22, 2009
1:00 p.m., State Fed Headquarters Albany
Luncheon will be served Issue of the Week The NYS AFL-CIO supports repeal of the transportation service sales tax and the imposition of the industry supported per trip fee. This action is taken on behalf of the International Association of Machinists representing the limousine drivers who requested this change.
The 2009-2010 NYS Budget included a new sales tax on transportation/livery services provided by a limousine or a black car that begins or ends in New York State. This was just one of the “nuisance taxes” that the NYS AFL-CIO opposed, as this one, in particular, has the potential to jeopardize the livelihood of the tens of thousands of black car and limousine drivers in the state.
The new tax is impossible to implement as it is unclear who is responsible for the collection and remittance of the tax. It is also unclear as to what services are subject to the tax and therefore impossible to accurately calculate the amount of tax to be collected.
As a result, the revenue estimates will never be realized by the State and the industry as a whole will suffer.
An alternative proposal to implement a per trip fee rather than the unworkable sales tax which was adopted in the budget has been proposed. This fee will ensure that revenues to the state are maximized and the livelihoods of the tens of thousands of hardworking drivers will be protected. Keep An Eye On Thursday, July 30, 2009
New York State AFL-CIO Twentieth Annual Day at Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY “At The Rail Pavilion”, 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For further information contact the COPE Department at 518-436-8516 ext. 211 For further information contact Legislative Department at:518-436-8516 or edonnelly@nysaflcio.org Copyright 2009 New York State AFL-CIO All Rights Reserved
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NYS AFL-CIO Events Annual Labor Celebration
December 16, 2010
Sheraton NY Hotel & Towers
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Support Haitian
Relief Efforts Haiti is a scene of unimaginable devastation and human tragedy today. The NYS AFL-CIO is asking our affiliates to do all they can to help Haitians survive Tuesday’s massive earthquake.
Donations can be made to the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center Emergency Relief Fund to ensure that assistance reaches workers and their families. You may write checks payable to: Solidarity Center Education Fund
888 16th Street, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006
Please note in memo line: “Earthquake Relief for Haitian Worker Fund”
The Solidarity Center and its partners are ready to assist Haitian workers and their families in any way possible. Please contribute what you can to the Solidarity Center’s Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers campaign. Updates on the relief efforts will be posted at
http://www.solidaritycenter.org
Thank you for your life-saving generosity.
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Ethically Speaking...Introducing a new monthly segment written by Chalmers Clark, PhD, focusing on ethical considerations in conversations about our work and positive values that organized labor strengthens in American society. In our last issue of Ethically Speaking... we took the doctrine of employment-at-will (EAW) and put it under the ethical lens of justice. We then brought the concept down to its roots in everyday notions such as 'fairness' and 'even handed treatment' or 'an even playing field'. (full story)
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Unemployment Resources
If you're out of work, you're not alone. In December, 2009, the unemployment in the United States remained at 10 percent, while in New York State it climbed to 9 percent. America's working families deserve better.
Increase Unemployment Benefits NOW!
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History of the NYS AFL-CIO The New York State AFL-CIO has a rich and proud history, which is deeply embedded in labor's continuous struggle for dignity and economic and social justice. This history is the story of the State Federation and its predecessor federations dating to 1865. Click here to view the full history of the NYS AFL-CIO
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