The Worker`s Justice Project believes that organizing is the most effective way to bring about positive change in the workplace. We commit to organizing low-wage workers of all races, genders, and industries to strengthen the right to organize, achieve socioeconomic justice, and build a democratic and diverse movement of low-wage workers. As the economic crisis continues to engulf the country, New York day laborers – who already face high levels of abuse and exclusion from protections that should be afforded to all workers – remain among the hardest hit. Every day, workers gather in the corners of day laborers to look for a way to feed their families. Unfortunately, the majority of them go home every day without finding work. Instead of decent jobs with a fair wage, they face precarious working conditions and widespread wage theft. We have set up a helpline that connects workers with available resources and provides free legal advice: 434-242-1494 (SMS and calls) | Toll free 1-800-269-4717 Richard Blum, a lawyer engaged in our employment law department, as well as former members of the unit, students from CUNY Law School`s Main Street Legal Services, and lawyers from Arnold & Porter LLP worked with Adhikaar, the Nepalese Workers` Centre, to work with 23 clients who were trying to claim unpaid wages from their former employer. owner of a chain of gas stations on Long Island. WJP solves hundreds of cases through the work center or street organizing in specific locations (such as Williamsburg, Bensonhurst, and Jackson Heights) of low-wage workers who work in construction, planting, cleaning, landscaping, childcare, and food services, all of whom have been denied pay for their work. or who have not paid the legal minimum wage or overtime.
The Workplace Justice Project provides advice, guidance and representation to low-wage workers on unpaid wage claims, discrimination, health and safety violations, minimum wage and overtime violations, workers` compensation and reinstatement issues, including licensing. Leadership development is a very important part of our mission and work. We are committed to empowering low-wage workers who have been deliberately excluded from the decision-making processes that most affect their lives. Our educational models are intended to provide workers with a place to think strategically about ways to collectively identify and address equity issues in the workplace and to set appropriate priorities and programs to address workplace issues. For years, many of these employees did not receive minimum wage, were not paid for overtime, and had illegal deductions from their weekly wages. Some employees, who often worked more than 80 hours a week, never received pay for their work. The Legal Aid Society`s Worker Justice Project lobbied the New York City Council to amend New York City`s Fair Opportunity Act. The amendment, which came into force in July 2021, gives workers the opportunity to keep and keep a job while conducting ongoing criminal proceedings. The Legal Aid Justice Center`s Virginia Justice Project for Farm and Immigrant Workers and coalition partners coordinate with people across the Commonwealth to take action to protect immigrant and migrant farm workers. Everyone knows that farm workers and guest workers are the backbone of Virginia`s economy, but they are historically left behind. This period of crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. «Hello, my name is__________.
I call on you today to show my support for migrant and farm workers in Virginia and express my concern about the conditions in which they work and live during the COVID-19 pandemic. That`s why I`m asking the Virginia Department of Health to ensure that inspections of migrant housing are improved to comply with CDC recommendations. In short, we ask VDH to ensure that there are separate residential facilities for workers over 60 years of age or with health conditions, designated facilities for sleeping, bathing and cooking for quarantined workers, adequate sanitizers and masks, and those responsible for complying with them. If these conditions are not met, we do not believe that these bearings should be licensed. If you would like more information about the details, I can send you a letter from the Legal Aid Justice Center with more details. Thank you for protecting migrant workers in Virginia. The Worker`s Justice Project`s Economic Justice Initiative is dedicated to creating sustainable jobs by developing, supporting and promoting worker-owned co-operatives among low-income workers. The Worker Justice Project fights this discrimination through a bold and comprehensive approach. The project advises criminal practice staff on the employment consequences of criminal proceedings in order to minimize damage to clients` employment opportunities and to give workers the necessary records to defend their rights. The bill also upholds the rights of workers who are illegally denied jobs or licenses due to arrest or conviction records by representing workers in administrative proceedings, pre-litigation rights and positive litigation. Finally, the project challenges government policies that create barriers to employment and advocates for legislative solutions to bring about systemic change.
Many migrant workers are already in Virginia, and thousands more will be on their way to Virginia in the coming weeks and months. Send an email and tell Governor Northam, as well as Commissioner Oliver of the Virginia Department of Health and Commissioner Hess of the Virginia Employment Commission, to support and protect farm workers! In about 80% of adult criminal cases in New York City, the accused is never convicted of a felony. Prior to the amendment of the Fair Opportunity Act, these New Yorkers were unable to support themselves or their families while criminal proceedings were ongoing. The mission of Mobilization for Justice (formerly MFY Legal Services) is to achieve social justice, prioritizing the needs of people who are low-income, disenfranchised or disabled. Call your local health department to demand the following protections for migrant workers living in labor camps! Employees contact us through our helpline or are referred by a community organization. Mobilization for Justice holds legal clinics every two weeks at its headquarters and organizes legal trainings in collaboration with neighborhood and rehabilitation organizations. The Worker`s Justice Project works with low-wage workers to prosecute unscrupulous employers through direct organizing and advocacy. The Workers` Justice Project involves affected workers in the wage collection process by developing a basic understanding of what the legal process to direct organizing entails. Our goal is to ensure that workers are empowered to defend themselves throughout the process of recovering unpaid wages. The Worker Justice Project is enthusiastically implementing the new anti-discrimination provisions. Since the amendment to the Fair Opportunity Act came into force, the Worker Justice Project has successfully helped dozens of our clients obtain employment or be reintegrated into ongoing criminal proceedings. In many of these cases, our clients have also received financial compensation.
For example, when our client, Ms. C, a home health care worker, was arrested earlier this year, her employer suspended her employment. The Worker Justice Project promptly sent a letter of complaint to Ms. C`s employer, stating that the employer`s conduct violated the amended Fair Opportunity Act and that the Worker Justice Project was prepared to take legal action if Ms. C was not immediately reinstated. Following the Worker Justice Project`s plea, Ms. C.`s employer immediately reinstated her and also agreed to pay her two weeks` back pay for the shifts she had missed as a result of the suspension. After returning to work, Ms.
C. was able to continue to provide for her family while defending her criminal case. Send an email and urge employers, farm associations and producers to support and protect farm workers! Fortunately, after years of work, we secured an incredible $285,000 settlement for our clients in bankruptcy court. Richard and his clients celebrated their victory when he handed cheques to a group of workers exploited by their employer for too long. The Worker Justice Project, an initiative of the Legal Aid Society`s Criminal Defense Practice, addresses discrimination against workers with a history of arrest or conviction living in New York City.