By GREGORY N. HEIRES Unions appear to be making a comeback as the Covid-19 economic crisis has emboldened workers and stirred up longstanding outrage over inequality and inadequate wages and benefits. In an historic victory in late March, workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island voted to be represented by a union. They are… Read More Are We Witnessing a Rebirth of Unions?
The last NJFAN newsletter featured a letter sent to New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams challenging his assertion that the problem in New York is not lack of jobs but lack of access to jobs–and urging him to create jobs in the tradition of his predecessor Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. The letter was signed by NJFAN Advisory… Read More The Problem in New York City is Too Few Jobs
By FRANK STRICKER 1. Unemployment. Unemployment fell again, reaching 3.6%. That’s about where it was in February of 2020. But the rates for some categories are still terribly high: African-Americans: 6.2%; Disabled Persons: 8.8%; Teens: 10%; and Black Teens: 22.9%. 2. Job Totals. Employers added 431,000 non-farm jobs. Not blockbuster numbers but a C+. Areas… Read More Seven Points about the March Job Reports
By TRUDY GOLDBERG A great deal of work in the United States is done by volunteers who are not counted as employed in official statistics of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics—even if their work is done in a traditional workplace. Why? Because they are not paid. John A. Turner, Bruce W. Klein, and Constance… Read More Making Volunteer Work More Visible
Uniting for Voting Rights (Letter to the Editor, NY Times, 1/27/22) By NJFAN CHAIR, TRUDY GOLDBERG Re “How Did Democrats Let This Happen?,” by Bishop Reginald T. Jackson (Opinion guest essay, Jan. 17): Bishop Reginald T. Jackson calls out Democrats and especially President Biden for failure to lead the fight to protect voting rights. Presidential… Read More Uniting for Voting Rights (Letter to the Editor, NY Times, 1/27/22)
