Over 65 million Americans – 1 out of every 4 adults – have a criminal record. At the Workers’ Center of Central New York, we recognize that employer discrimination against applicants with criminal history records not only violates state and federal labor laws, but channels applicants into the lowest segments of the labor market, where wages are low, jobs are precarious and violations of employment standards are commonplace. This is why we adamantly support passage of the “Ban the Box” bill in Syracuse. This important piece of legislation would require employers in Syracuse to remove from job application forms the “box” that applicants with criminal records must check. It would defer all criminal history inquiries and background checks until later in the application process, allowing applicants with criminal history records a fairer shot at employment and bringing employers into compliance with existing state and federal laws which prohibit blanket discrimination against applicants with criminal history records. The movement in support of “Ban the Box” is growing rapidly; so far, “ban the box” laws have been adopted in over 50 cities and counties and 9 states! Help us make Syracuse the first city in New York State to pass such an ordinance and join us in the struggle for not only employment opportunity, but good jobs, for all! For more information on the “Ban the Box” campaign in general, see the National Employment Law Project athttp://www.nelp.org/index.php/content/content_issues/category/criminal_records_and_employment/. For more information on the campaign in Syracuse, contact co-chair of the board, Gretchen Purser.

• Conduct outreach to, and recruit new members from, diverse constituencies of workers (in retail, restaurant, janitorial and other industries where low wages and violations of labor laws are commonplace).
• Develop worker leadership.
• Recruit workers to participate and contribute to the organization/s mission.

• Work collaboratively with members and advocates to identify and develop workplace justice campaigns.
• Support members to collect evidence of workplace exploitation and to participate collaborative research about their employer targets.
• Plan direct actions including community delegations, public protests, press conferences, etc.

• Work on the organizations communications (website, social media, etc.)
• Contribute to the centers overall strategy and organizational development.
• Help to build alliances with labor, community, faith, and other partners in Syracuse and beyond.
• Help to integrate volunteers wishing to support the organization.

• A passion for social and economic justice and a strong commitment to organizing and the empowerment of low-income populations.
• Familiarity with workers centers and the current landscape of labor organizing in the U.S.
• Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, popular education and other leadership development practices.
• Community or labor organizing experience.
• A willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• A collaborative spirit and strong interpersonal skills.
• Preferred but not required: Fluency in Spanish.

We are proud to announce that we are 2013 recipients of two generous grants from the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program and the Berger-Marks Foundation! The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation program supports non-profit grassroots, constituent-led organizations across the country that are using direct action and grassroots organizing strategies to accomplish their goals. Thank you Ben & Jerry’s Foundation!

The Berger-Marks Foundation supports organizations that promote workers’ rights and have an impact on social justice. The grant specifically aims to help young women get the skills and confidence to take leadership in struggles for workplace and economic justice. We are very grateful for this support!  To learn more about the great work Berger-Marks supports and the many other organizations and unions that received grants this year, visit their website at http://www.bergermarks.org.

Thanks to this funding we are able to offer a part time position for an organizer to help us continue our social justice work.  Please check soon for the job announcement and help us spread the word.

On Thursday April 11 the Workers’ Center and Plymouth Church welcomed the “Shield our Fields: Equality for Farmworkers Tour.” More than 50 people listened to farmworkers and  activist Librada Paz, the 2012 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Laureate, talk about the labor exclusions they face and about a new bill that will benefit farmworkers across the state by granting them the right to overtime pay, protection when bargaining collectively, a day of rest , and disability insurance coverage. The gathering included a delicious lunch prepared and served by Trinidad y Felipa Ramos, members of the Workers’ Center and leaders of the Guatemalan community in Central NY.

Since the 1930′s New York’s farmworkers have been excluded from the same rights and protections that most other workers take for granted, including a day of rest per week, overtime pay, disability insurance, and the right to bargain collectively with their employers. Only recently have farmworkers been granted the right to clean drinking water in the fields, sanitation facilities, and the right to the same minimum wage as other workers, but other exclusions still remain. The Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act (S.1743/A.1792), a bill currently in the NY State Legislature, would remove these exclusions and grant farmworkers the dignity and equality they deserve.

One by one the farmworkers spoke about their working conditions and the difference the passage of the bill could make in their lives. One young worker said he wants to have time to do other things besides working all the time like going to school or spending time with friends. Another worker said he didn’t know how bad was in NY after he came here to work from another state. He said that besides the grulling hours of work they are also vulnerable because their work is dangerous and many times when they get hurt they end up being fired from work. Those listening joined the workers as they chanted “Sí se puede, sí se puede” motivated to finally achieve equality for farmworkers in NY state.

We thank all of those who attended and specially Felipa and Trinidad Ramos for the delicious lunch they cooked for the farmworkers and their allies.

Please join the campaign and take action. The time for equal rights for farmworkers is NOW. Here are some actions you can take to support NY state farmworkers:

Sign this petition initiated by the NYS AFL-CIO at nysaflcio.org/justice4farmworkers

Join the Rally for Equal Rights! on May 13, 2013.  Buses will be leaving from western NY and they will stop in Central New York. To reserve a seat call Rural Migrant Ministry at (845) 485-8627

Read more about farmworkers labor conditions and the campaign at the Rural Migrant Ministry website.

April 26, 2013  8:00 am at Pensabene’s Restaurant

Honoring Workers who have died on the job.

Panel and audience discussion

Health and Safety Champions in our communities.

Please join us. Any proceeds beyond cost of this event will support the work of the Workers’ Center and outreach efforts of the Occupational Health Clinical Center. Cost is $20 per person. Also you can support the event by being included in the program with an ad. More information please send us an email at rfuentes@workerscentercny.org See you there!

Take a look at the Flyer. Please help us to share the information far and wide.

At these meetings we will learn about different issues related to workers’ rights and how to build worker power. Please join us!

Nuestra primera junta mensual será el domingo 5 de Agosto a las 3:00 pm en la inglesia Plymouth, 232 E. Onondaga St. Syracuse, NY 13202

En estas juntas aprenderemos acerca de diferentes aspectos de las leyes laborales y también trabajaremos en el crecimiento de nuestra fuerza laboral. Los esperamos!

The Workers’ Center of Central New York is a grassroots organization committed to workplace and economic justice. Syracuse is a diverse city with large African-American, Latino and refugee communities and with a 29% poverty rate.

Founded in the summer of 2008, the Workers’ Center is affiliated with Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ), the New York State Labor-Religion Coalition and Occupational Health Clinical Centers. Through community organizing, leadership development, popular education and policy advocacy, the Workers’ Center of Central New York aims to empower low-wage and predominantly immigrant workers to combat workplace abuses and improve wages and working conditions. With the active support of an advisory board, the organizer will work to build on our work-to-date, develop and expand the center’s membership base of low-wage workers, and develop and lead strategic campaigns for workplace and economic justice. Though this part-time position is currently the Workers’ Center only staff position, the Center aspires to increase staffing, pending the results of an ongoing fundraising drive.

Click here to read the job description.

Every year on April 28 workers who lost their lives, got injured or ill at work are remembered during Workers Memorial Day. Unions and allies have worked hard to make sure that labor conditions are safe for all workers so that they can return home safe each and every day. On this day we remember all those who are not here anymore to keep their memory alive and, as mother Jones said “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.”

In Central New York the Occupational Health Clinical Center and the Greater Syracuse Labor Council will host a Unity Breakfast this Friday April 27. The theme for this year is “Safe Jobs Save Lives. Keep the Promise Alive.”

The breakfast will also honor two people and two organizations for being Worker Health and Safety Champions. They are:

Cathy Quinn-Kay of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division

Wally Reardon, a worker and founder of Workers at Heights Health and Safety Initiative

CSEA District 5

SEIU 1199 Upstate

The breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn on Electronics Parkway in Salina. Tickets are $25 and are available by contacting Pat Rector at the Occupational Health Clinic,rectorp@upstate.edu, or 432-8899, ext. 127. Proceeds from the dinner will support the work of the Workers’ Center of CNY.

Congratulations to Wally Reardon, who is a member of the Leadership Team  of the Workers’ Center. Thanks so much for all you do for workers’ safety!

Art by Favianna Rodriguez

Come join undocumented students activists from the New York Youth State Leadership Council, find out about the DREAM Act, and learn how to organize towards it.

EDUCATION NOT DEPORTATION!

Saturday, November 5 · 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Special Events Room, Noreen Reale Falcone, Library, Lemoyne College 1419, Salt Springs Road, Syracuse, New York

Find out more about the NYSYLC at: http://www.nysylc.org/

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served