NYUP is committed to building leadership among diverse groups of unemployed New
Yorkers to build a new constituency for expanded, extended and accessible income
support for jobless workers. NYUP members take action to fight for jobs and benefits
in a sophisticated blend of direct action and advocacy that has included mass
rallies, policy briefings, press events, meetings with administrators and elected
officials, and much more.
Demanding
Fair Revenues and Fighting Budget Cuts
On March 25, 2003, NYUP-Nassau members stood together with
other members of the Families First Coalition to tell New York
State Senate that “Working Families Will Not Stand Idly
by as Governor & Republican Senate Guts Schools, Forces
Government Shutdown, and Destroys Local Economy.” The
Families First Coalition is a broad-based group comprised of
the Working Families Party, the New York Unemployment Project,
the Health and Welfare Council, Fight for Families, and a host
of other social service agencies, health care professionals,
civic groups, students, and home owners.
Holding
FEMA Accountable
On January 27, 2003, NYUP Members Angela
Cedeño, Nereida
Peña, Felix Batista and Napoleon
Morales joined U.S.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, City Comptroller William
Thompson and
Long Island Council of Churches Executive Director Rev.
Thomas Goodhue at a press conference at City Hall organized
by the New York Immigration Coalition calling on the Federal
Emergency Management Agency to stay in New York and to expand their efforts
to provide Mortgage & Rental Assistance to New Yorkers
who have lost their jobs as a result of September 11th and
the economic downturn.
Fighting
for Extended Unemployment Benefits—In
Song
Inspired by the holiday spirit and by Congress’s latest
attempt to ignore the unemployed, NYUP members gathered near
City Hall to serenade Christmas shoppers with their own, unemployment-themed
versions of favorite holiday
carols.
The NYUP carolers, along with an NYUP member dressed up as
the Grinch,
were drawing attention to federal government’s plan to
cut off over 1 million Americans from their unemployment benefits
on December 28, just three days after Christmas. Newspaper
and television reporters swarmed the crowd singing NYUP members.
The caroler’s voices were heard—days later, Congress
voted not to cut off unemployment benefits at the end of the
year.
Fighting
for Jobs and Income Support
Days before the state gubernatorial elections, close to 700
New Yorkers gathered in front of Governor George Pataki’s office
to demand the Governor respond to the needs of unemployed and
low-income New Yorkers. The 400 NYUP members at the rally
were joined by 300 members from other NYC groups, including
Community Voices Heard, Make the Road
by Walking, the New York
Immigration Coalition and ROC New York. As the large group
outside protested loudly for an extension of unemployment benefits
and a higher minimum wage, a small team of NYUP members made
its way to the governor’s office with a stack of resumes
from 100 unemployed New Yorkers. Staffers in the governor’s
office refused to accept the resumes, barring NYUP members
at the door. While the governor’s staff stood indoors,
NYUP members led a loud and lively march up Third Avenue calling
for good jobs and extended unemployment insurance benefits.
Fighting
for Extended Unemployment Benefits
Throughout the summer and fall of 2002, members of the New
York Unemployment Project were at the forefront of a campaign
to extend unemployment benefits both on the Federal and State
levels.
NYUP members and leaders lobbied in Albany
and Washington, and joined Senator Clinton, Rep. Rangel and
Senator Daschle in press conferences and hearings throughout the fall.
On September 12, 2002, the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
committee was joined by two busloads of NYUP members who filled
the Senate hearing chamber to advocate for an extension of
benefits for unemployed Americans. NYUP was
the only membership based organization invited by Senator Edward
Kennedy to testify
at the hearing on extended unemployment benefits. Felix
Batista,
NYUP member and former employee of Windows on the World restaurant,
testified before the committee on behalf of NYUP as
120 NYUP members behind him raised red signs reading “Extension
Now.” Committee members committed to continue the fight
in Washington for a full extension of unemployment benefits.
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