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04.04.2022
On a sunny afternoon on March 10th the Network joined the Human Service Council (HSC) with 1,600 human services workers from supportive housing and other nonprofit organizations alongside elected officials to urge the City to implement the asks of the #JustPay Campaign in the City budget: fund the COLA, set a living wage-floor of at least $21, and create a wage and benefits schedule for government contract human services workers comparable to all government employees in the same field.
Maria Lizardo from Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) led and emceed the rally with great enthusiasm and remarked “Human services workers are 75% people of color, 70% women and 55% women of color. Show me the money and #JustPay.”
“We need solutions now. Today,” said Council Member Oswald Feliz. “This is a problem affecting many communities, but especially women and people of color and that’s a problem. The solutions are not difficult. The solutions are simple.”
“It is our human services workers that are essential workers of this City.” Said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “It is appalling that we would ask you to do it without a COLA.”
“Our City is only as strong as our workers. It is time for the City and the State to step up.” Said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, “If we want solutions to the problems that we see every day, the solutions are in #JustPay.”
“We are proud to serve, but because we are underpaid and overworked, our clients are the ones who suffer the most.” Said Lijin Thomas, Sector Director/Director of Shelter Services at Volunteers of America- Greater New York. “Please #JustPay so we can work to end the cycle of homelessness.”
“We provide essential services to communities but we can’t even afford to live in them ourselves. This adds even more stress to an already extremely challenging job.” said Chan Henry, Case Manager at Urban Pathways.
“Human services workers are the pillars of our community and when we talk about building a city that works for working class people it’s specifically about supporting people who do that work.” said Council member Tiffany Cabán as she closed out the rally.
Thank you to everyone who joined the rally, to those who shared their stories and to those who participated on social media. The Network looks forward to the continued fight for living wages for our sector. To learn more about the #JustPay campaign, visit https://www.justpayny.org/.