November 2021 INSIDE
DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs ...12
Council Votes to Overhaul Construction Safety ...7
Taxi Drivers Savor Victory as Medallion Debt Bailout Deal Ends Hunger Strike ...4
Issue #26
NYC Council Passes Historic Labor Harmony Legislation
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ew York, NY: The New York City Council passed historic labor harmony legislation into law. Intro 2456, known as Labor Peace for Retail, Food Service and Distribution Labor, will help to create dignified workplaces where workers are able to exercise their freedom of association without fear of coercion or intimidation. It will also protect New York City’s investments in economic development by ensuring they are not threatened by labor disruptions.
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Speaker Johnson Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
“Labor peace is a win-win for New York City taxpayers and workers. When the City subsidizes a project, workers in turn want an atmosphere where
their rights are respected. Labor peace does just that. Taxpayers also want to know that their investments are protected. Labor peace does just that. When workers’ rights are respected, we can more effectively challenge income inequality, establish a living wage and have a more effective recovery from COVID-19. Codifying and strengthening the executive order into law means more workers will be able to choose without fear and intimidation to belong to a union. Thank you to the New York City Council and Speaker Corey Johnson. We look forward to it being signed into law,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).p
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Are You As Grateful As You Deserve to Be? ...22
Labor-Related News - Nationally & Locally
Floyd: No Poetry, No Prose, Just Straight Talk ...3
Student Workers of Columbia University on Strike, Week Four ...16
An Interview with Jill Pitman, UFCW2013 ...17
Failure to Reauthorize Employment Harms the U.S. Economy ...15
RWDSU Calls on Holiday Shoppers and Amazon to Treat Workers with Dignity and Respect
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s the holiday shopping season gets underway, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), is urging holiday shoppers to treat workers with dignity and respect as they return to shopping in stores amid supplychain issues. “The supply chain is still precarious as we emerge from the pandemic. Retail workers bear the brunt of shoppers’ frustration. Tempers quickly rise when customers hear that coveted holiday items are stuck on shipping containers at sea and have been backordered for months; and especially if they’ve gone to multiple stores only to go home empty handed. Workers are not to blame, and stores should provide continued on page 3
Important Factors of Healthy Relationships ... 19
Take Action! Strong unions mean higher wages, safer working conditions and dignity for all people who work. Passing the PRO Act is our first step to getting there. Sign the petition. Go to: workersworldtoday.com
Brian Figeroux, Esq.
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November 2021
Did you know unions are what brought races and genders together more than any other type of organization, including government? We’re all brothers and sisters in the union. And we don’t have to be forced into this unity. In the common struggle for a better life, a decent income and respectable retirement, the divisions fade away.
-Loren Adams, Arkansas Postal Workers Union Editor, The Arkansas Postal
Should There Be a Limit On How Much Debt a Young Person Takes On?.... 8
Contents In Solidarity: No Poetry, No Prose, Just Straight Talk......................3 Workers’ Rights Taxi Drivers Savor Victory as Medallion Debt Bailout Deal Ends Hunger Strike..........................4
Striking Alabama Mineworkers Bring Their Fight to New York City More than 500 Warrior Met Mineworkers brought their picket line from Alabama to Manhattan this week, and the New York City Labor Movement was out in force to welcome them. The United Mineworkers of America (UMWA) members, on strike for 8 months now for fair benefits, wages, and safe working conditions, marched in the streets to the headquarters of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager and Warrior Met's biggest shareholder. Six of the protestors, including UMWA President Cecil Roberts, were arrested by the NYPD for civil disobedience when they sat down in the street in front of BlackRock after the rally and refused to leave.
Workers’ Safety Monoclonal Antibody Treatments Save Lives...........................................................................6 Council Votes to Overhaul Construction Safety.........................................................7 Family: The True Modern Relationship If You Want to Support the Health and Wellness of Kids, Stop Focusing on Their Weight...............................................................10 Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Program .....................................12
Photo courtesy: New York State AFL-CIO
Immigration Reform in Build Back Better Bill Moves Forward .......................................................13
This Day In Labor History - November 22
COLUMNS Love, Health & Travel .... 20 Diabetes Burnout: What It Is and How to Handle It
Photo courtesy: New York State AFL-CIO
“The Uprising of the 20,000.” Some 20,000 female garment workers are on strike in New York; Judge tells arrested pickets: “You are on strike against God.” The walkout, believed to be the first major successful strike by female workers in American history, ended the following February with union contracts bringing better pay and working conditions – 1909
I had hit the wall when it came to my diabetes care. I was officially burned out.
Conversations .... 22 Are You As Grateful As You Deserve to Be? Research shows that grateful people tend to be healthy and happy.
Do you want more? Education .... 14 NYC Kids Can Get $100 for COVID Vaccine Shots at Elementary Schools
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November 2021
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In Solidarity
No Poetry, No Prose, Just Straight Talk BY GREGORY FLOYD
O Supports Workers’ World Today
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ecently, I was in Albany fighting and seeking support of A1261/S1947, legislation that will create a clear definition of public work and level the playing field for New York’s contractors. District Council 9 Painters and Allied Trades Union (DC9), the union for painters, prides itself on being a strong advocate for workers’ rights and safety. We are excited about this new publication, Workers’ World Today, which covers the issues of relevance and concern for all workers. We are encouraged that all workers: blue and white collar will have a voice and platform. Congratulations on your inaugural issue. We wish much success to the leaders and team of Workers’ World Today and pledge our support.p Davon Lomax Political Director, DC9
n the eve of his victory, with camera lights glaring, the media’s microphones strategically placed and an enthusiastic crowd in full view, New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams, in a reference to the first Black mayor of this city, David Dinkins, whose inauguration speech famously spoke about New York’s “gorgeous mosaic” said: “We are so divided right now that we are missing the beauty of our diversity.” He then went on to declare: “Today we take off our intramural jersey and put on one jersey: Team New York.” Another elected official known for his graceful speaking style that brought thought-provoking meaning to his words, was Gov. Mario Cuomo, one of whose oftenquoted remarks was: “You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose.” Cynics have come to interpret this as justification for making campaign promises just to get elected, but as the former governor himself explained, it means that there is an idealism and enthusiasm felt in a successful campaign that is often difficult to reproduce in its purest, fullest form. In other words: Although politics and governance are intertwined and have a symbiotic relationship, institutionalizing and codifying the two into policy or law Treat Workers with Respect/ continued from page 1 security, safety protocols and training to handle irate shoppers this season. Retail workers experience heightened stress and pressure this time of year, even in normal times.
that benefits the people they serve, and meets the public’s expectations, presents tremendous challenge. But the concept of being on a team that delivers its promises is certainly not new, unfamiliar or objectionable to most union members. We get it. We know that unions bring voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless. America’s labor movement history is rich with “before” and “after” examples of how our advocacy and perseverance improved working conditions— thereby substantively enhancing the lives of working families. The 40-hour work week, health and vacation benefits, safety requirements and the “fight for $15” are just a few of the countless campaigns that labor leaders, throughout decades of hard work, have fought and won. More recently, unions’ response to COVID-19 and its variants, have resulted in yet another line in labor’s resume. By and large, labor unions were at the helm where other leadership was lacking. We provided help and hope to our members—many of whom were victims of the disease. Clearly, among many of labor’s leaders, the standard rule is to try and avoid poetry and prose, and substitute them with Spike Lee’s advice to just “Do the right thing!” With this in mind, labor unions and their members might find themselves in the Shoppers need to remember what this season is supposed to be all about — kindness,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). The union also called on Amazon in particular to recog-
TEAM Publisher Workers’ World Today, Inc Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip Contributing Writers Linda Nwoke Charles Tabasso Victoria Falk Erin Telesford Jennine Estes, MFT Travis Morales Mary Campbell Janet Howard Chris Tobias
Floyd.Photo courtesy: New York State AFL-CIO
unique position of having the best fit for that team jersey the New York City Mayor-elect mentioned, and so many other newly elected leaders echoed, on election night. Nearly every victory speech contained calls for unity among all New Yorkers as well as a public acknowledgement that labor played a large role in helping them achieve the office sought. The two are intertwined; they are, in fact, inseparable. New government leaders need labor leaders and their membership not just to wear symbolic apparel, but as significant participants sitting at the key issues table, talking and being heard. No poetry, no prose. Just straight talk from those in the know.p Gregory Floyd is president, Teamsters Local 237 and vice president at-large on the general board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. This OpEd was originally published in the Amsterdam News on November 11. nize the health and safety needs of its employees, and reduce the unbearable pace of work which has resulted in countless documented physical and mental injuries — a pace of work that is only exacerbated by the holiday shopping season. p
Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Telephone 1-866-435-3286 Email info@workersworldtoday.com Visit us at www.workersworldtoday.com
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November 2021
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Workers’ Rights
Taxi Drivers Savor Victory as Medallion Debt Bailout Deal Ends Hunger Strike BY SAMANTHA MALDONADO THE CITY
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t was a day they hungered for, but feared would never come. Cab drivers on Wednesday broke their hunger strike after reaching an agreement with the city to restructure the crushing debt that’s devastated many taxi medallion owners. The cabbies danced outside of City Hall, with chants of “No more suicides” ringing through the brisk air. Some cried from their seats nearby, snuggling beneath blankets. Others savored the taste of avocado, the first food they’d eaten in over two weeks. For 46 straight days and nights, cab drivers and their allies have protested outside City Hall — escalating to a hunger strike for the past 15 days as they called on the city to step in and help ease their overwhelming financial burden.
Taxi workers rejoice outside City Hall. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
“I couldn’t be happier right now,” said one of the hunger strikers, Augustine Tang, 37, a driver from Brooklyn. “I’m so relieved. We didn’t ever think it would get to this point. What people don’t really see is that we have been here for years. We’ve been protesting for so many years.” Under the agreement, Marblegate Asset Management — the private equity firm that is the largest holder of medallion loans — will restructure loans to a maximum of $200,000, which then decreases to
$170,000 with a grant from the city of $30,000. The interest rate will be capped at 5% over a 20-year term, which will amount to monthly payments of $1,122. That’s a far cry from the hundreds of thousands in loans some drivers long carried as medallion value plummeted amid competition from appbased rideshare services. Tang’s father, originally from Hong Kong, drove a yellow taxi. When he died in 2015, Tang inherited the medallion and the associated $530,000 in
debt. He carries on his father’s legacy through driving — and fighting for a win. “I hope he’s proud,” Tang said, tearing up. “I’m sure he didn’t want me to go through what I went through throughout this journey, but us winning has to be something.” ‘We Relax Now’ The deal will work in tandem with the city’s federally funded $65 million Medallion Relief Program, which had provided $21.4 million in debt relief for 173 medallion owners as of
Oct. 30. “Taxi workers have worked tirelessly to make New York City the most vibrant city in the world, and we refuse to leave them behind,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. The city’s number is somewhat higher than the $145,000 maximum loan the New York Taxi Worker Alliance, which represents 25,000 taxi and appbased drivers, had sought. But crucially, the city agreed to guarantee the principal of the loans in case of default. “The guarantee was the biggest thing we needed,” Jaslin Kaur, a former candidate for City Council from Glen Oaks, Queens. “Without the guarantee, we knew drivers would default on their loans and, without having a protection plan in place, that lenders would be able to abuse many drivers, too.” Kaur’s father, Partap Singh, 62, has been a taxi driver for three decades. Burdened with continued on page 5
November 2021
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Workers’ Rights Medallion Debt/ continued from page 4 debt from the medallion market’s crash, the family had relied on food stamps and Kaur was forced to drop out of New York University. The experience drove her to run for office. On Wednesday, the darker days were behind the fatherdaughter duo. Singh grinned from ear to ear as he hugged his daughter and fellow strikers. “After 30 years, I never would have thought about it at this stage. It’s so amazing,” he said. “We have a lot of plans, but first of all, we relax now.” ‘We Made History’ Many cabbies shoulder debts as high as half a million dollars and more — loans they incurred after the pre-pandemic collapse of the taxi industry. The medallions that were once worth as much as $1 million dropped to a fraction of what they cost, due to the growth of app-based rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft. The pandemic further decimated ridership, preventing the drivers from paying for costs like repairs and insurance.
Cabbies danced outside of City Hall, chanting “No more suicides,” after the de Blasio administration agreed to restructure the crushing debt that’s devastated many taxi medallion owners. Some went hungry for over two weeks during the protest.
Richard Chow took part in the hunger strike. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Reporting by the New York Times brought the plight of the medallion owners to a wide audience, helping galvanize support for the struggling cabbies. At least nine indebted drivers have died by suicide, including Kenny Chow, who took his life in May 2018 at the age of 56. An immigrant from Myanmar, he’d bought a medallion for more than $750,000, worked seven days a week and couldn’t get out from under the weight of the debt, on top of paying for cancer treatment for his wife, who later died. Kenny’s brother, Richard Chow, 63, also a cab driver, took part in the hunger strike for 15 days. He said his happiness at the deal with the city almost made him forget his
hunger and dizziness. “Finally, we made history, and I’m very proud,” said Chow, who lives in Staten Island and said he owes nearly $390,000 to his lender. “I’d like to see my brother alive. If it were three years ago, my brother … would be here for this celebration. But I miss my brother, I’ve broken my heart.” Chow said if he had the opportunity, he’d tell his brother: “We’re going to save 6,000 medallion owners. No more suicides. No more bankruptcy.” ‘This Means Everything’ Several elected officials and candidates participated in the hunger strike, including Assemblymembers Yuh-Line
Niou (D-Manhattan) and Zohran Mamdani (D-Queens) and City Council Member-elect Shahana Hanif (D-Brooklyn). They organized with groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America, the Street Vendors Project and City Workers for Justice to seal their deal. “This means everything. It’s rare that everything you fight for you win,” Mamdani said. “It’s not a half victory, it’s not an almost victory, it’s a complete victory. These drivers have won what they deserve.” Hanif, who participated in 10 days of the hunger strike, told THE CITY that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called her before her election night victory party in Gowanus Tuesday to say he was anticipating good news. “He’s a constituent of mine, so it feels good to have him as a champion in our corner…
Schumer and his staff have been making daily phone calls,” she said Tuesday night. “What we’re doing is working.” Looking Ahead As the cabbies celebrated with cheers and music, a brighter future loomed before them. Tang said the newly “sustainable mortgage” for his medallion means he and his wife can make plans for the rest of their lives. “I can have a family now,” Tang said. He pointed to the dozens of older drivers around him who could now embrace the possibilities for their lives, too, beyond paying off a mountain of debt. Mamdani, although rejoicing in the victory, said the fight is far from over. “The city has a huge responsibility that it has reckoned with at this moment, but we can never forget Uber and Lyft,” he said. “In terms of what the future holds, it continues to be accountability for this crisis and to hold those actors accountable.”p
This story was published by on November 3, 2021 by THE CITY.
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November 2021
6
Workers’ Safety
Monoclonal Antibody Treatments Save Lives
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he NYC Health Department reminded New Yorkers and health care providers that monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments are available and lifesaving. From December 2020 through October 20, 2021, at least 25,000 doses of monoclonal antibodies were administered to eligible New Yorkers at high-risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes who tested positive for COVID-19. Monoclonal antibody treatments have averted at least 1,100 hospitalizations and at least 500 deaths among people treated in New York City. mAb treatments can help anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, particularly those at higher risk of severe disease. NYC Health + Hospitals offers mAb treatments at 11 hospitals regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. “The science shows that monoclonal antibody treatments work and can make all the difference when it comes to the severity of COVID-19 illness,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi.
“New Yorkers, get tested for COVID-19 as soon as you have symptoms. Once diagnosed, please speak with your health care provider about this lifesaving treatment.” “All of our 11 hospitals have monoclonal antibody treatments for those eligible,” said Andrew Wallach, MD, Ambulatory Care Chief Medical Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals. “There is no out of pocket costs for the treatment, and we will treat anyone regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay.” When given early after symptom onset, mAb treatments can decrease the risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, which is why it is crucial to get tested for COVID-19 as soon as symp-
toms begin – the sooner someone is tested, the sooner treatment can begin. Monoclonal antibody treatments are authorized as treatment for non-hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at a high risk of progression to severe disease. One product, REGEN-COV, is authorized for the prevention of illness for certain people at high-risk that were exposed to COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized mAb treatments for emergency use and they are shown to be safe in clinical studies. mAbs work similarly to antibodies that the immune system makes and help fight COVID-19 while the immune system begins to make its own antibodies. Those who receive mAb treatment should wait three months after treatment before getting vaccinated. Monoclonal antibody treatment is more effective if begun shortly after symptom onset or exposure. The Health Department and NYC Health + Hospitals are working to ensure that health care providers and
the public are aware of this important treatment option so that eligible people can seek care right away if they test positive for COVID-19 or after an exposure. Treatment should be given as soon as possible after a patient has a positive COVID-19 test result and within 10 days of symptom onset. Per the FDA’s emergency use authorization, mAb treatment is authorized for patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kilograms) and who meet at least one of the following criteria: •Older age (for example, age ≥65 years of age) •Obesity or being overweight (for example, BMI >25 kg/m2, or if age 12-17, have BMI ≥85th percentile for their age and gender based on CDC growth charts) •Pregnancy •Chronic kidney disease •Diabetes •Immunosuppressive disease or immunosuppressive treatment •Cardiovascular disease (including congenital heart disease) or hypertension
•Chronic lung diseases (for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma [moderate-to-severe], interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension) •Sickle cell disease •Neurodevelopmental disorders (for example, cerebral palsy) or other conditions that confer medical complexity (for example, genetic or metabolic syndromes and severe congenital anomalies) •Having a medical-related technological dependence (for example, tracheostomy, gastrostomy, or positive pressure ventilation (not related to COVID-19)) •Other medical conditions or factors, such as race or ethnicity, that may place people at higher risk due to long-standing systemic health and social inequities Post-exposure prophylaxis should be considered for patients meeting the above criteria who were exposed to a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are not fully vaccinated or not expected to mount an immune response to the vaccine. p
Early Action is Key! Ask Your Doctor About Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Monoclonal antibody treatment is for people who have COVID-19 or were recently exposed to someone who has had COVID-19. Monoclonal Antibody Treatment: • Helps your body 昀ght COVID-19 while your immune system begins to make its own antibodies • Reduces your risk of becoming sick from COVID-19 and avoid hospitalization • Is recommended for anyone age 12 and older who is at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, such as older adults and people with other health conditions • Is NOT a substitute for vaccination To 昀nd a site offering monoclonal antibody treatment, visit nyc.gov/health/map. To 昀nd a vaccination site, visit nyc.gov/vaccine昀nder or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692).
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November 2021
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Workers’ Safety
Council Votes to Overhaul Construction Safety
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ity Hall, NY: After a particularly devastating year for construction worker deaths in New York City, on Wednesday, November 10, the Council voted on a package of bills building on efforts to reduce construction-related injuries and fatalities. The first bill would require additional site safety supervision at major building construction sites, requiring a designated full-time construction superintendent who would be responsible for safety and code compliance, along with overall management of the construction project. The superintendent would be in addition to a site safety coordinator or site safety manager. A second bill would lower the threshold for a major building construction site to include those that involve existing or proposed buildings seven or more stories, or 75 feet or more, in height. This would trigger additional site safety requirements for more construction sites. A third
piece of legislation would prohibit the installation and use of dangerous stand-off brackets for suspended scaffolding work and would also eliminate certain required final inspections of temporary construction equipment in order to streamline the signoff process for permits. Lastly, a fourth bill would amend certain existing requirements and establish new requirements for the use of cold-formed steel light-frame construction. The bill would amend special inspection requirements for their use, additionally creating new requirements for the installation of cold-formed steel light-frame construction, the installation of decking on
cold-formed steel light-frame construction, and the use of such framing and decking during construction and demolition. Another bill before the Council today concerns one of the many obstacles formerly incarcerated individuals face when reentering the workforce: the abusive nature of “body shops.” Body shops are non-union labor brokers in the construction industry that often exploit recently released individuals under parole supervision, which allows them to pay lower wages and disregard the safety of employees. The bill before the Council today would require businesses that supply employees
to clients for construction work, in exchange for compensation, to be licensed. Applying for a license would require signed statements and select information on business operations, and each covered business would have to supply their workers with a series of notices on their rights as workers covered by this bill, training and certifications the employees would need to perform their work duties, and information on the employees’ work assignments. Developers would also receive these notices and could be subject to civil penalties if they use the services of an unlicensed labor broker. Importantly, employees of the businesses subjected to a violation of the bill’s subchapter would be able to initiate a private right of action against their employers for violations of the bill, including for retaliation. Intro 2318, sponsored by Councilmember Diana Ayala, provides a regulatory framework and increases transparency of how body shops
operate. This bill distinguishes between legitimate subcontractors (who assume risk when they bid on a project) and body shops, who supply laborers (often formerly incarcerated) and charge the general contractor or owner a premium for their work. “I’m glad the City Council has listened to the stories and struggles of formerly incarcerated workers like me,” said Laborers Local 79 member John Simmons, a former body-shop worker who was active in the union’s campaign for the bill, Laborers Fight Back. “For too long the body-shop system of exploitation has operated in the shadows, on construction sites throughout our city. For too long, we’ve been told that any job, no matter how unsafe and poorly paid, is better than no job. No more.” President Mike Hellstrom said, "We urge outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio to sign this law immediately and incoming Mayor Eric Adams to enforce it aggressively.” p
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November 2021
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Money Matters
Should There Be a Limit On How Much Debt a Young Person Takes On? BY PAUL SCHOFIELD THE CONVERSATION
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oung Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 owe over US$1 trillion in student loans and mortgage and credit card debt that many will be paying back for decades. The law generally allows adults to accrue significant debt so long as they can find a willing lender. However, as a philosopher who has written about the duties people have to themselves, I see a case for legislation that limits the amount and types of debt that people can take on. While this may seem unappealingly paternalistic, my work suggests that it can be a justifiable way to protect people from their own choices and to enhance their freedom. Debt and injustice toward oneself It’s easy to assume that deci-
sions about how much debt to take on should be left up to the individual. The philosopher and economist Adam Smith – known to most as the father of capitalism – voiced this sentiment when he wrote that the government should resist meddling in people’s decisions unless doing so is necessary to perform its “duty of protecting … every member of society from the injustice or oppression of every other member.”
However, in my 2021 book “Duty to Self,” I suggest that the ability to accrue vast amounts of debt puts people in a position to commit injustice against themselves. A typical case of injustice involves having one’s own interests and choices discounted or ignored by some other person who selfishly prioritizes himself or herself over others. But people can suffer similarly on account of decisions they make during their younger
years that ultimately burden them later in life. There is reason to think that this is the situation that a considerable number of Americans will find themselves in as they enter middle age. A quarter of those between the ages of 18 and 34 owe at least $30,000, with 1 in 10 owing over $100,000. Evidence suggests that this burden is often taken on without much consideration for the future. Young people borrow with-
out knowledge of the amount and without considering how they will pay it back. Many indebted persons report feeling that they don’t actually owe anything at all, viewing borrowed money as theirs to spend rather than debt to be repaid. Very often, borrowers focus on the immediate benefits of spending while discounting almost entirely any burden associated with repayment. Thus, many people will likely end up suffering through their own actions in the same way that they might through the actions of some other unjust person. This raises the question of whether a government concerned about protecting its people from injustice should concern itself with the ways that young people burden themselves when they borrow. I argue that it should. And here’s why. continued on page 11
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10
Family: The True Modern Relationship
If You Want to Support the Health and Wellness of Kids, Stop Focusing on Their Weight BY NICHOLE KELLY, ELIZABETH BUDD & NICOLE GIULIANI THE CONVERSATION
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ending a child to school in the morning is a daily ritual for millions of families worldwide. Unfortunately, the attendance process has become highly disrupted due to COVID-19. The fact that many kids have been away from a physical school building for a year or more presents a number of challenges for them and for their family members as schools reopen and resume in-person classes. Since the pandemic started, people of all ages have gained weight. At the same time, the rate at which youth and young adults are seeking treatment for eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder, has increased. While the reasons for these changes are complex, pandemic-related stress and weight bias – the belief that a thin body is good and healthy, while a large body is bad and unhealthy – are prominent contributors. As researchers who study health behaviors and are also parents of young children, we often see health research and health initiatives that place a disproportionate emphasis on weight. That’s a problem for two big reasons. First, it draws attention away from better predictors of chronic disease and strategies to address these factors. Although a high body mass index, or BMI, is one risk factor for various chronic diseases, it is only one of many,
and far from the strongest. And while moderate weight loss does reduce chronic disease risk for some people, about 80% of individuals who manage to lose weight regain it. The other 20% describe their ongoing efforts to maintain their weight loss as stressful and exhausting. Second, disproportionate emphasis on weight reinforces weight bias. Weight bias, in turn, contributes to weight-related discrimination, like bullying and teasing, which is common among youth. Across diverse samples surveyed, 25% to 50% of children and adolescents report being teased or bullied about their body size, and these experiences are linked to disordered eating and depression, as well as poorer academic performance and health. To best support the physical and emotional health of children during this pandemic, we suggest reducing the emphasis on body size. Below are some specific tips for parents, teachers and medical providers. 1. Stop using the words “fat,” “obese” and “overweight” When asked, children and adults with larger bodies consistently indicate that these are the least preferred and most stigmatizing terms to talk about body size, while “weight” and “body mass” are the most preferred. So, consider modeling less stigmatizing language. For example, if your teen refers to her friend as “overweight,” respond by saying, “Yes, your friend does have a larger body.” Likewise, if your doctor refers to your child as
“obese,” ask them to share their “body mass index percentile” instead. Or, better yet, ask them not to talk about weight at all – which leads us to our next recommendation.
say in the activity. So let them choose whenever possible. There are additional physical and mental health benefits if these activities are done outdoors.
2. Focus on health behaviors Physical activity, eating habits and emotional support from friends and family are stronger predictors of disease and death than BMI, and all of these have been greatly affected by COVID-19. Considering that behavioral weight loss programs are ineffective for the majority of people, we recommend focusing on behaviors that are more easily changed and have stronger influences on health and well-being. Regular physical activity, for example, improves mood and lowers risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, even in the absence of weight loss. Building and sustaining new health behaviors can be challenging. Parents are more likely to be successful if they start by setting realistic goals that include the whole family rather than singling out one child based on their body size. Like adults, kids enjoy activities more when they have a
3. Challenge weight biases Weight bias stems in large part from the belief that individuals are responsible for their body size, and if they are unable to lose weight or keep it off, they are deserving of blame and ridicule. These beliefs may contribute to an increased risk of disordered eating in children through parental behaviors like overly restrictive feeding practices and negative comments about weight. Parents are also greatly affected by this bias, reporting guilt and sadness for their perceived contributions to their child’s weight. We suggest that parents challenge weight bias by acknowledging that – quite literally – hundreds of factors outside of a person’s immediate control contribute to body size, including genetics, racism and trauma, and environmental factors, like levels of crime and proximity to green space and recreational facilities.
4. Advocate against weight discrimination Weight is the No. 1 reason youth are teased, according to a large sample of teenagers in the United States. However, weight bias is lower in schools where body weight is part of anti-bullying policies. Consider talking with your child’s principal, attending the next PTA meeting and advocating for the inclusion of weight discrimination into existing bullying policies. If your child is being teased, get curious. Ask them how they feel about it. Acknowledge that weight discrimination is a very real phenomenon. Do not take this time to encourage weight loss. Instead, help your child appreciate their body as it is. Then, talk with their teacher. Schools who have teachers who are willing to intervene have less bullying. And if your child is struggling, consider working with a mental health professional, inperson or remotely. During the pandemic, there has been a twelvefold increase in psychologists in the United States providing care remotely, and although there are some reported challenges – like finding a private, quiet space – youth in treatment for eating disorders describe an appreciation for the accessibility, convenience and comfort of this approach. 5. Help youth be savvy consumers of social media Youth who spend more time on social networking sites feel more dissatisfied with their bodies and engage in more continued on page 11
November 2021
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Family: The True Modern Relationship Limit On Debt/ continued from page 8 Freedom and borrowing In seeking to prevent injustice, the law often aims to ensure that people’s lives are free from domination. This involves seeing to it that people are able to pursue values and plans that they embrace, rather than ones that are imposed upon them. According to the philosopher Philip Pettit, a commitment to removing all forms of domination is fundamental to republican governments – notably the United States – and is the basis for many foundational laws such as those prohibiting physical coercion, threatening behavior and indentured servitude agreements. My own work highlights ways in which freedom from domination can be promoted through laws protecting one from one’s younger self, including laws against taking on excessive debt. The life choices of a person who enters middle age with a lot of debt are often governed by the need to repay it rather than by a commitment to
things cared about, valued or loved. Some forgo having children or do not pursue homeownership, believing that such choices are cut off because of the burden of debt they already carry. Many are locked into careers they would no longer choose simply because they provide a steady income necessary to pay down what they owe. In other words, people may reach middle age and find that they are made to carry out plans forced upon them by younger versions of themselves who benefited at the time and gave little thought to the burdens they were imposing. The government could best protect freedom, I argue, through legally imposed restrictions on the amount and types of debt that a person
takes on from a private lender. While a moderately priced degree from a reputable college might open up future opportunities, an expensive education at a for-profit college or an extravagant vacation financed with credit cards might well serve only to restrict a person’s future choices. A society concerned with preventing injustice will take a nuanced approach toward debt. It will permit the kinds of borrowing that may enhance people’s ability to pursue plans and goals of their choosing. But I believe it will restrict through legal regulation the types of borrowing that render individuals a threat to their own freedom.p Paul Schofield is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Bates College
Wellness of Kids/ continued from page 10 disordered eating. Furthermore, more than half of adolescents surveyed reported increased experiences with weight discrimination on these sites during the pandemic. Of course, social media isn’t all bad. Research suggests that it may depend on how youth engage with these sites, with “photo-based activities” being most closely linked to disordered eating symptoms. Parents can help their children learn to notice when posting and viewing photos or following appearance-focused influencers leaves them feeling bad or comparing their body to others, and encourage them to take a break. They can also suggest that they consider unfollowing those accounts and instead seek out people who inspire them, make them laugh and help them feel empowered. The last year and a half has been hard. As people consider how to resume some of their pre-COVID activities, it is our hope that food and movement
can help families and communities to reconnect and feel good. Our bodies have carried us through an extremely trying time and are deserving of respect and kindness. p Nichole Kelly is an Evergreen Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology and Prevention Science, University of Oregon Elizabeth Budd is an Evergreen Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology and Human Services, University of Oregon Nicole Giuliani is an Evergreen Assistant Professor of Special Education and Clinical Sciences, University of Oregon
November 2021
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Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights
DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs
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he Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State (DOS), has announced the lists of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in the next year. The notice listing the eligible countries will be published in the Federal Register on Nov. 10, 2021. For the next year, the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the secretary of state, has decided to: •Add Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Cyprus, the Dominican Republic (currently only eligible for the H2A program), Haiti, Mauritius, and Saint Lucia to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs; and •No longer designate Moldova as an eligible country for the H-2A visa program
because it no longer meets the regulatory standards for that program. However, Moldova’s eligibility for the H-2A program remains effective until Jan. 18, 2022. DHS maintains its authority to add countries to the eligible countries lists at any time, and to decide not to redesignate any country at the end of the one-year period following the date of publication of a country’s last designation in the Federal Register, should DHS and DOS determine that a
country fails to meet the requirements for continued designation. Examples of factors that could result in the exclusion of a country or the removal of a country from the list include fraud, abuse, denial rates, overstay rates, human trafficking concerns, and other forms of noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the H-2 visa programs by nationals of that country that are contrary to U.S. interest. The H-2A and H-2B visa programs allow U.S. employers to
bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural and nonagricultural jobs, respectively. Typically, USCIS approves H-2A and H-2B petitions only for nationals of countries that the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as eligible to participate in the programs. However, USCIS may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions, including those that were pending as of the date of the Federal Register notice, for nationals of countries not on the list on a case-by-case basis only if doing so is determined to be in the interest of the United States. Even where the Secretary of Homeland Security has determined to terminate or decided not to designate a country, DHS, through USCIS, may allow, on a case-by-case basis, a national from a country that is not on the list to be named as a beneficiary of an H-2A or H-2B petition based on a de-
termination that it is in the U.S. interest for that individual noncitizen to be a beneficiary of an H-2 petition. Determination of such U.S. interest will take into account factors, including but not limited to: (1) Evidence from the petitioner demonstrating that a worker with the required skills is not available either from among U.S. workers or from among foreign workers from a country currently on the list. The designations in this notice are effective from November 10, 2021 and shall be without effect on November 10, 2022. For the list of nationals of the countries are eligible to receive H-2A and H-2B visas, visit www.ijlef.org Immigration law is complex. Questions? Ask the Lawyer. Get a FREE consultation. Call 855-768-8845 or schedule an appointment at www.askthelawyer.us p
November 2021
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Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights
Immigration Reform in Build Back Better Bill Moves Forward BY AMERICA’S VOICE
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ashington, DC: With Congress back in session this week following the House’s recent passage of the Build Back Better (BBB) legislative package, below are several key updates about the immigration provisions included in the bill. “Hopeful sign” A pre-Thanksgiving Axios story was headlined, “Democrats get hopeful sign from parliamentarian on immigration.” It recapped an informal presentation by Senate Democratic staff to the Senate parliamentarian last Tuesday: “Democrats got a hopeful sign from the Senate rules referee Tuesday in their effort to include provisions for undocumented immigrants in the $1.75 trillion ‘human’ infrastructure bill they hope to pass through the partisan reconciliation process … Democrats
have promised to pursue immigration reform through the legislation that’s also focused on expanding the social safety net and addressing climate change. Their two previous proposals were turned away by the Senate parliamentarian. Two people familiar with discussions described the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting as a positive sign. The Senate Parliamentarian did not accept, reject or recommend changes to the proposal — only moving it along to a formal test of budgetary effects in which both parties will be able to make their case to the parliamentarian.” “No participation trophies” A New York Times article published this weekend is titled, “Democrats Struggle to Energize Their Base as Frustrations Mount.” The piece quotes leading immigrant advocate Lorella Praeli on why Democrats need to deliver on their
promises on immigration: “Lorella Praeli, the president of Community Change Action, a group advocating immigration reform, offered a terse warning to the administration about keeping Latino support: ‘There are no participation trophies.’” “Pared-down immigration provisions must be kept in the reconciliation bill” The New York Daily News editorial board is out with an editorial calling on Democrats to deliver on the immigration provisions in the Build Back Better bill. Titled, “Last chance: Pared-down immigration provisions must be kept in the reconciliation bill,” the piece decries the fact that the bill falls short of the ultimate goal of citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, but concludes: “[F]or millions of people around the country, not to mention for the recovering economy, work authorization
and protections from deportation will make a world of difference. It’s not enough, but it is certainly better than nothing, which is why it absolutely needs to remain in the final version of the Senate reconciliation bill. … Unlike some other administration priorities that have been bumped from the bill, the main peril to the immigration measure’s success comes not from moderate Democrats but from Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who has twice ruled against efforts to enact a more permanent fix for immigrants. In her estimation, these measures were mainly intended to shift policy, not budgets, and therefore were inappropriate to include in the bill. In this case, what is being contemplated is not a change to existing laws, and there should be no reason to interfere with its inclusion. It’s a wretched state of affairs that there are almost no prospects for a standalone
immigration bill given that legalizing longtime immigrants is overwhelmingly popular with the U.S. public and had been a point of relative bipartisan consensus up until the last couple of decades. Still, as things stand, this reconciliation is the only shot, and it should include these protections.” America’s Voice memo America’s Voice has written a piece on why the work permits and deportation protections that passed in the House legislation are a meaningful step forward. The memo’s three key points: •The immigration provisions of BBB would provide meaningful relief for 7.1 million undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for an average of 20 years. •The provisions are specifically designed to pass muster with the Senate Parliamentarian. •The American public strongly supports reform and relief for undocumented immigrants.p
November 2021
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Education
NYC Kids Can Get $100 for COVID Vaccine Shots at Elementary Schools BY REMA AMIN CHALKBEAT VIA THE CITY
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ew York City is extending its $100 vaccine incentive to young children getting vaccinated at school sites or cityrun clinics, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday. “We really want kids to take advantage, families to take advantage of that,” de Blasio told reporters. “Everyone can use a little more money around the holidays, but more importantly, we want our kids and families to be safe.” Following the recent federal emergency approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, city officials are setting up one-day vaccine clinics at more than 1,000 school sites across the city that serve these students. Children who get their COVID shots at schools or at other city clinics across the five boroughs will be eligible for the $100 incentive that the
city has offered since late-July to new vaccine recipients getting their shots at city-run sites. Once children get their first dose, families will receive an email with instructions on how to select a pre-paid $100 debit card or another incentive, including free tickets to sporting events or city attractions. Families can also call 877-VAX4NYC for more information. Second Dose Shuffle Second doses, which must be administered at least three weeks after the first, won’t be available at school sites, unlike previous schoolbased vaccine efforts. However, staff will help
families set up their next appointments, city officials said. Schools are not planning to offer the second dose because they are not as popular as other places for vaccination, such as a pediatrician’s office or a clinic, according to de Blasio and Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi. The 700 pop-up school clinics set up during the first week of school this year — which also offered doses to family members and staff — vaccinated about 7,000 people, said Nathaniel Styer, a spokesperson for the city’s education department. That is an average of 10 vaccines per site. “We want to make sure we broaden our network as much as possible for people to get their first doses as quickly as they possibly can, and schools are a great site for us to be able to do that,” Chokshi said. “That being said, we do have a very robust network pediatricians, pharmacies, our own city sites, and so we’ll help people to navigate to get their second dose at a place that will remain convenient for them, and we can say that with confidence because of the breadth of network we have for vaccination across New York City.” Consent Issues The city is considering tweaking its parental consent process for children to get vaccinated at schools. Initially, city officials said parents and guardians must provide verbal consent for their children to get shots at school — either by accompanying their children or being available by phone if another adult goes with the child. But acknowledging that many parents may not be able to accompany their children, de Blasio said Thursday the city may allow parents or guardians to sign a written consent form and call the school to confirm they signed off on it. The city was consulting the state and the city’s own legal counsel on the matter, de Blasio said, but he did not immediately have more details on the possible change. Masked and Answered The newly approved shots mean that most New York City students can get vaccinated. Despite that, de Blasio and his health advisors are not ready to remove the mask mandate inside of schools.
Dr. Jay Varma, a health advisor to the mayor, noted that the virus has evolved a lot over time, making it difficult to predict what level of vaccination can allow the city to peel back on COVID safety rules. “The reality is we all want, as public health professionals, to also go back to the day that we and our children don’t have to wear masks and feel the way they did before the pandemic,” Varma said. “But also, as Dr. Chokshi has noted, we’re also very thankful that our measures to keep transmission controlled in schools has been working, and so we do feel an obligation, I think — especially given the fact that there is a lot of uncertainty about what level of vaccination will make us all feel like we’re back to normal.” As of Wednesday, 12% of children ages 12 to 17 had not yet received at least one dose of the vaccine. This school year to date, 5,064 students — or roughly .5% of the city’s school population — have tested positive for COVID, according to the education department. In that time period, 2,019 classrooms have been fully closed for quarantines, while 3,196 classrooms have seen partial closures. p This story was originally published by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering public education. This story was published by on November 4, 2021 by THE CITY.
Take Action: Tell Elected Officials to Seize This Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Reduce Class Sizes in New York City
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e have always known that reducing class size is integral to student achievement, teacher retention and equitable schools, but it’s now also become an issue of public health. We must learn from the pandemic and take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses in the future. It’s time to recognize that we need safe classroom occupancy limits. City Council Intro 2374-2021 would amend the City’s administrative code in relation to classroom capacity. Smaller class sizes are already the norm in many parts of New York. Our students deserve the same opportunities as the rest of the students in the state. For the first time in decades, we have a significant amount of federal and state
education aid that could be used to hire the staff and secure the space to lower class sizes in every school if the bill becomes law.p
November 2021
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Jobs & Recession
Failure to Reauthorize Employment Harms Asylum Seekers and the U.S. Economy BY KATE GOETTEL IMMIGRATIONIMPACT.COM
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.S. workers are losing their jobs due to bureaucratic delays at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), despite an economy desperate for workers. Asylum seekers wanting to renew their employment authorization documents are often waiting for upwards of a year for renewal, resulting in job loss and associated benefits. On Wednesday, five workers filed a nationwide class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and other workers suffering from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ unlawful delays. The workers are represented by the American Immigration Council, the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), and Lakin & Wille LLP. Plaintiffs are a medical doctor treating underserved rural populations, a long-haul truck driver, a food services manager, a technology worker, and a behavioral health care worker for special needs children. Despite nationwide shortages in each of these industries, the plaintiffs have lost or will lose their jobs in coming days because USCIS has delayed renewing their work authorization, despite their timely filing for renewal. One of those workers is Dr. Muradyan, who lost her positions at two rural hospitals, where she cared for COVID victims. Now she has lost financial support for her family, and she faces an irreparable interruption in her residency. Another plaintiff, who is eight months pregnant, will lose her job as a manager at McDonald’s and health benefits shortly before giving birth if USCIS fails to reauthorize her employment in the next few days. For asylum seekers asking to renew their employment authorization, USCIS has already determined that they are authorized to work under the immigration regulations. Renewal is a simple, straightforward process—despite the
extreme delays on the agency’s end. This loss of work authorization is occurring while the United States is facing a widespread national worker shortage. In August 2021, the U.S. Labor Department reported that there were 10.4 million job openings, whereas the number of individuals leaving
employment rose to 4.3 million, the highest monthly level reported since December 2000. Leading economic experts have long maintained that authorizing immigrants, like asylum seekers, to work can play a critical role in ameliorating labor shortages. Unsurprisingly, lack of work authorization acutely affects
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these asylum seekers’ ability to support themselves and their families, putting them in financial peril. But they also experience cascading harms without an employment authorization document. They lose employment-based benefits like health insurance, and the document itself is a prerequisite to receiving driver’s licenses and other state aid. These delays also affect a community for whom stability is critical. For the plaintiffs, losing their work authorization has resulted in anxiety, loss of sleep, and depression, and has interrupted necessary treatment to address mental health challenges that are common for survivors of persecution. This is bureaucracy at its worst. We hope that USCIS reassesses its priorities to support asylum seekers and the U.S. economy.p
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November 2021
16
In the News
Student Workers of Thousands Of Nursing Home Workers Flood Times Columbia University on Strike, Week Four Square To Demand a Fair Contract
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housands of nursing home workers from hundreds of facilities across the state marched from Times Square to SEIU1199 headquarters on Seventh Avenue on Wednesday to tell nursing home owners that they deserve a fair contract with good wages, safe working conditions, affordable, comprehensive health benefits and a dignified retirement. 1199 represents 33,000 nursing home workers from 250 facilities across the Tri-State Area with a contract that expired on September 30thp
C Photo courtesy NYC Central Labor Council
Musicians of DCINY Deserve a Fair Contract!
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usicians deserve a fair contract! American Federation of Musicians Local 802 has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) for failing to negotiate in good faith with its musicians. In 2019, DCINY musicians successfully formed a union with Local 802 to address issues of inadequate pay, no benefits, unreasonably long rehearsals, limited break times, intense and physically demanding performance days, and an atmosphere of fear due to frequent retaliation for voicing concerns to management. Despite the musicians’ success in forming a union, DCINY
management has refused to negotiate in good faith for a fair contract. Specifically, DCINY has used the pandemic as the reason to
arbitrarily delay negotiations, despite the fact that most major NYC cultural institutions (such as the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharm o n i c , American Ballet Theatre and Jazz at Lincoln Center) have managed to negotiate fair agreements with their musicians and re-open their doors.p
Photo by @jeremychiuu via @SW_Columbia
olumbia student workers are still on strike in what is currently the largest such action in the country. Three thousand workers, including undergraduate and graduate teaching and research assistants at Columbia University, are now in the fourth week of their strike. On Monday, the union and the University entered mediation, negotiating contract demands via a third-party arbitrator. However, unlike the earlier strike in Spring 2021 when the
Times Guild, Times Tech Guild, and Wirecutter Union Rally for Respect and to Stop Union Busting
Help Striking Families at United Metro Energy Corp
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orkers at billionaire John Catsimatidis's United Metro Energy Corp have been on strike since April 19th. The immigrant workers provided gasoline, diesel, and heating oil to New York throughout the pandemic, while Catsimatidis — a major political donor — paid them wages as much as 50% lower than at other city oil companies. UMEC terminal workers, fleet mechanics, and service technicians voted
Photo courtesy NYC Central Labor Council
to join Teamsters Local 553 in February 2019, but Catsimatidis dragged out negotiations for a first contract for two years, precipitating the strike.
A GoFundMe has been established to help the 14 striking workers and their families as we head into the holiday season. Any contribution will help them continue to fight for their families and provide essentials such as food clothes and travel expenses. Your support is appreciatedp
Union’s Bargaining Committee agreed to pause the strike to enter mediation, the current strike will continue even as mediation gets underway. The workers, members of UAW Local 2110, are fighting for demands including arbitration for discrimination and harassment claims, higher compensation levels, and improved healthcare covering vision and dental care. While graduate student workers at Columbia are paid $5,500 to $18,000 below an annual living wage in NYC, Columbia's endowment earned 32.3 percent returns for the fiscal year of 2021, eclipsing both the 5.5 percent returns realized in fiscal year 2020 and the 9.9 percent 10-year returns — resulting in a total endowment value of $14.35 billion. p
Photo courtesy NYC Central Labor Council
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embers of three New York Times bargaining units joined forces along with supporters including the NYC CLC on Tuesday to deliver a message to management: Stop union busting. Respect our union. Protesting outside the New York Times building, Wirecutter Union member Sarah Kobos said workers at Wirecutter, the Times-owned product review website, are ready to strike. The union has organized a work stop-
page set to begin on Black Friday and continue through Cyber Monday, the website's busiest and most profitable period. They’re calling on supporters to honor their “digital picket line” and stop shopping through Wirecutter if a deal isn’t reached before then. The Times is sitting on about $1 billion in cash but has offered Wirecutter staff guaranteed annual raises of just 0.5%. Meanwhile, Times management is also slow-walking bargaining with the Times Guild, and trying to block Times tech workers from holding a fair election for their union. “Every single person here who makes the Times what it is deserves representation,” said NewsGuild of New York President Susan DeCarava. “They deserve fair wages. They deserve a newsroom and workplace that is safe and healthy and strong and runs according to the values that we all represent.” p
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November 2021
17
Union In Action
An Interview With Jill Pitman, UFCW2013 BY LINDA NWOKE SPECIAL TO WWT
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n 2020, data from the Bureau of Labor show that just over 10% of the U.S workforce were union members. Factors like threats of offshoring, automation, lack of political will made membership less attractive. Fast forward to 2021, postpandemic plus a committed federal government that promised better treatment for workers and the union, and there is quite a transformation. Several factors like workers' increased self-worth and selfvalue, employers' betrayal during the pandemic, shortage of workers post-pandemic, and evidence of soaring company profits all form part of why workers feel more empowered and confident to demand better benefits. Some of these issues formed part of the argument by Kellogg and John Deere workers who have been in the media over the past months as they
demanded a better deal. Luckily, having both political and economic power aligned on the worker's side makes a lot of difference to the struggle in the labor movement. The Role of the Labor Union in New York In a recent interview with Labor Radio, an experienced frontline labor and union advocate, Ms. Jill Pitman, whose inspirational story, and commitment to the labor movement has seen her serve in various positions. Rising from a laborer on a garbage truck ladder to becoming a shop steward of her Teamsters group, she later served for several years as a business agent for Teamsters Local 97. For over seven years, she has served as the director of collective bargaining for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 2013 in New Jersey. She now focuses mainly on private-sector workers' contracts in New York. During the discussions, she
Pitman. Photo courtesy: Jill Pitman
talked about her work with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which comprises workers from health care, light industry, warehouse, truck, and produce, and only a few grocery store workers.
She cited several successful cases and negotiations over time, recalling with fondness the recent successful negotiations between CW Local Twenty Thirteen, Du Pont Company, and Quality King Distributors.
In the case of DuPont Company, her team and their attorneys reached a substantial agreement with the company to reinstate the company's shabbily treated senior members, negotiated a living wage for three years and better bonuses. "And after a lot of negotiations, the first thing that we had to do was reinstate a lot of the worker's seniority. And, we used funding that the company received through our federal government to make sure that there was a living wage provided for three years, which is the term of the contract, as well as many different bonuses and different skills increases. It was a big victory for the UFC W Local 2013," she said. In the case of Quality King Distributors, now turned Quality Fragrance Group, they are still in negotiations on behalf of the workers, mainly mothers and immigrants demanding a decent wage, benefit, and working conditions. continued on page 18
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Union In Action Jill Pitman/ continued from page 17 "This time, the battle is for the perfume mania workers. One of the biggest things that we're dealing with right now is they're trying to change the blackout period for vacations, and they want to do it for the first couple of weeks of September. So, we've been making a small movement towards an agreement." The UFCW 2013 also represents health care workers seeking better working conditions and treatment for a workforce that has sacrificed a lot since the pandemic. Some of the demands include better safety measures and wages. "These dedicated people went to work to take care of our seniors, the sick, our elderly. They deserve some extra compensation. If they are called essential workers, they need to be paid like essential workers; they are not. And I think that's something that all industries, but especially the health care industry, needs to wake up and say." These are not just words, as she lived out this conviction during the height of the pandemic. She was an advocate
for some of the health care industry workers who were laid off. She had to negotiate an 'effects bargain' for the laid-off workers. "It's mainly just begging because you have no leverage because you can't strike. These are for people who were already laid off. So, in essence, what I was doing was begging for health benefits. A lot of what I got was no". She recalled that the union had to step in and ensure that people didn't lose their health care. "And that was the biggest thing that that I did on our representation ends," she explained. Importance of Becoming a Union Member If you want your interests protected and the contract's terms and conditions enforced when needed, you must consider joining the union. A union ensures that all these are accomplished and more. According to Ms. Pitman, "So what a union does is, it provides you a contract for your labor, for your work. And what it says is, we demand a certain level or standard. What we're supposed to do is enforce and make sure that those things are being followed and use the courts, if need be, to get those rights reinstated or to get those rights enforced because the company is failing to do so." Additional information about the mission, roles, and resources about UFC W Local 2013, including details about workers' rights, and learning languages, can be found at www.ufcw2013.org Ms. Pitman explained that there are a lot of resources and additional information about how to join a union. She reiterated its importance and maintained that a union makes collective demands beneficial for most workers.p
NY Metro Postal Union President Tells Full Frontal's Samantha Bee How We Can Save the Postal Service
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Photo courtesy: New York State AFL-CIO
ew York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU President Jonathan Smith sat down with Samantha Bee on this week's episode of Full Frontal to talk about how Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is trying to sabotage not only the Postal Service, but people's confidence in the Postal Service, with the largest rollback of consumer mail services in a generation. In the segment, President Smith explains who suffers as a result of postal slowdowns: "The elderly person who's not computer literate. That small business owner that cannot compete with these large conglomerates.
Those soldiers overseas that need to get a word from home." President Biden doesn't have the power to remove DeJoy, because that power is vested in the Board of Governors. What the President can do is nominate someone new to replace Board Chair Ron Bloom, a supporter of DeJoy whose firm helped privatize the UK's postal service, before his term is up on December 8. You can help by calling President Biden at 202-456-1111 between the hours of 11am and 3pm to tell him that Ron Bloom has got to go! "We do not deliver Republican mail. We do not deliver Democratic mail. What we deliver is America's mail," said President Smith.p
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November 2021
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Love, Health & Travel
Important Factors of Healthy Relationships it can go a long way. Many relations do endure for a while, even when they're not healthy. However, this doesn't lead to growth. While everyone can learn something under any circumstances, building a healthy relationship can improve your life. Keep in mind that you can't change people unless they want to, so everyone needs to learn at his own pace.
BY MARY CAMPBELL
I
n an ideal world, you would learn from your parents how to commit to a healthy relationship. In reality, it's not that easy because people experience different issues and expectations. Additionally, the media often paints unrealistic versions of relationships. These misconceptions include portraying unhealthy situations in humorous ways or packaging nice guys and girls in attractive outsides. However, healthy relationships exhibit the following common cornerstones that have nothing to do with these depictions. Honesty Lack of honesty is a part of daily life, from advertising to politics. You can even find it at work. On the other hand, people frequently defend offensive, hurtful remarks by labeling them as honesty. Both characteristics can make it dif-
ficult for individuals to recognize truthfulness. The beginning of a relationship often starts with the omission of little things. Many people usually mold themselves into different versions of what they think a prospective partner wants. In time, it can become difficult to uphold this persona. Instead, you should start by knowing and accepting yourself so that you can portray the real person. Once you are in a relationship, stay honest. For example, you can show integrity by not hiding unpleas-
ant information and by being truthful about daily life occurrences. Kindness Love consists of positive feelings, and kindness is one of them. Since love combines a variety of emotions, it means different things to different people. Many people often profess to love, but they can't do so without being kind. When your partner seems kind to you but not to others, it doesn't seem like a healthy relationship. People who show kindness to animals, the eld-
erly and the infirm often make good partners. Trust Trust can be difficult for people who have previously been victims of cheaters. However, if you expect everyone to misuse trust going forward, future relationship will most likely fail. It's also not fair when you burden new partners with these issues. If you keep attracting partners who violate trust, try to evaluate existing relationship patterns. When honesty, kindness, and trust are part of a relationship,
What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like? Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect and open communication between partners and they take effort and compromise from both people. There is no imbalance of power. Partners respect each other’s independence, can make their own decisions without fear of retribution or retaliation, and share decisions. If or when a relationship ends, there is no stalking or refusal to let the other partner go. p
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November 2021
20
Love, Health & Travel
Diabetes Burnout: What It Is and How to Handle It BY ILENE RAYMOND RUSH
T
wo weeks ago, I tore the meniscus of my right inner knee as I got off my stationary exercise bike. The pain of the injury didn’t show up until a few mornings later — getting out of bed, I set my foot onto the floor and immediately raised a yelp of misery. At the orthopedist office, the doctor drained fluid from the knee and injected cortisone with the largest needle I had ever seen. Thankfully, the injection worked, and after a few days of ice and rest, I was cleared to return to my regular activities. But I didn’t. Instead of returning to my daily exercise routine, I stayed put as my bike and weights gathered dust. I didn’t take walks out-
side; I didn’t hit my yoga mat. It wasn’t only exercise I abandoned: I didn’t take my blood sugars. I stood in the kitchen and — ignoring years of "clean eating" — downed six homemade chocolate chip cookie bars. I pushed the scale into the closet and avoided mirrors. I had hit the wall when it came to my diabetes care. I was officially burned out. What is diabetes burnout? It’s when the emotional toll of taking care of your disease becomes overwhelming and, for whatever reason, you give up. In my case, my knee injury was the final straw that sent me over the edge; but the truth is, but there had been so much else leading up to it. The long pandemic months that kept us mostly inside, unable to visit family or friends. The death of
my sister’s mother-in-law earlier that week (a lovely, warm woman who dealt with her own late-in-life diabetes by permitting herself two — exactly two -- Raisinets a night). The frustrating inability of my husband or myself to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine in our
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state despite our eligibility. The 21-degree weather with more snow and ice headed our way; the very notion that my beloved Bruce Springsteen had sold out and narrated an ad for the Super Bowl. The masks. The handwashing. Everything. There are many, many reasons for diabetes burnout. For some, it arrives when you get a complication even though you’ve done your best to take care of your disease. Or when despite every effort, the scale refuses to budge. Or highsugar readings never drop. And it can take many forms: You might refuse to go to your doctor. Or stop monitoring your food. Or "forget" to renew your medications. Most of us experience diabetes burnout at some point. No matter the cause, the signs and symptoms are the same: You’re sick of being sick, and you can’t take it anymore. For a week, that was me. So how did I deal? I made myself some rules: 1. No beating myself up. I gave myself the right to be sick of my disease.
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2. I acknowledged that it couldn’t last forever. As delicious as it was to pretend that I didn’t have to care for my diabetes, I knew it couldn’t last. I decided to call my time away from diabetes a vacation. Since I couldn’t take a vacation during the pandemic, I reasoned, a short escape from diabetes might be the best I’d get. 3. There were limits. I didn’t down sleeves of Oreos or gallons of ice cream, but I did let loose: making spaghetti for dinner one night (white pasta!)
and adding a glass of wine or two (or three). I exercised if I felt like it, but I didn’t push myself to get a certain number of cardio minutes. If I felt like stopping, I did. 4. Medications were non-negotiable. I continued to take my medications (some habits survive burnout), but I ignored my sugar readings. (I really didn’t want to know.) 5. I reached out for support. I talked to a friend about what I was going through and let her remind me of how careful I normally was, and how, maybe, I had needed to take a break to power through. At the week’s end, I had put on a few pounds. When I got back to testing my sugars, my first reading wasn’t great — but it wasn’t horrific either. I dumped the cookie bars and went food shopping for new items that were healthy, low carb, and a little off the beaten track: Japanese eggplant, portobello sliders, low-carb tortillas, a bottle of oyster sauce -to regain my interest in healthy food. Let’s be clear: Burnout sucks, and it can hurt your health. Diabetes care is best when it's consistent and ongoing. If you find yourself experiencing diabetes burnout, contact your doctor or diabetes educator. They can help you get back on track by reminding you of your earlier progress or setting you up with a regular support group. In these difficult days, we need all the help we can get.p Ilene Raymond Rush is an wwardwinning health and science writer, Article originally appeared on WebMD Blog, February 18th, 2021.
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November 2021
21
Love, Health & Travel
What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters BY DR. DAVE A. CHOKSHI
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ecently, important updates about the COVID-19 vaccine were announced—that certain people are now eligible for a “booster” dose. Since the beginning of COVID-19, our scientific understanding of the virus has constantly evolved, and many New Yorkers understandably have questions about this new development. I would like to provide the “who, why, and where” about boosters. Who should get a booster? All three brands of booster shots are available for many New Yorkers—Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson—and “mixing and matching” of the vaccines is safe. But who is eligible for a booster depends on the vaccine you originally received. At this time, the Pfizer and Moderna boosters are ap-
proved for certain people vaccinated at least six months ago—specifically, people who are aged 65 or older, adults with underlying medical conditions (like diabetes), and adults at higher risk of exposure due to their job (like health care workers) or due to where they live (like nursing home residents). The Johnson & Johnson booster is approved for anyone ages 18 or older who received at least two months ago—as I did. Since “mixing and matching” is now authorized, Johnson & Johnson re-
cipients can get a booster of any of the three authorized vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson). There is limited data showing that Moderna or Pfizer vaccines could result in higher antibody levels. Why get a booster? The science continues to show that all three of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe and save lives. That’s why getting more New Yorkers vaccinated with their first and second doses remains the most important thing. The booster adds another layer of protection—it is meant to “boost” your immunity.
This is particularly important for people who are most at risk for severe illness. Where can New Yorkers get a booster? In New York City, booster shots are available at sites in all five boroughs, and for inhome vaccination. To find a location near you, go to nyc.gov/vaccinefinder. The vaccines are free at City sites to all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status. Already, over 250,000 New Yorkers have received a booster shot. That means thousands of New Yorkers will have stronger protection from COVID-19. They will be able to gather with friends, family and loved ones more safely. And for any New Yorkers who are still unvaccinated, I urge you to take the first step today— join 6 million other New Yorkers and get vaccinated. It is our single best way out of this pandemic and a return to normal life again.p Dr. Chokshi is New York City’s Health Commissioner
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November 2021
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22
Conversations
Are You As Grateful As You Deserve to Be? BY RICHARD GUNDERMAN THE CONVERSATION
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s a physician, I have helped to care for many patients and families whose lives have been turned upside down by serious illnesses and injuries. In the throes of such catastrophes, it can be difficult to find cause for anything but lament. Yet Thanksgiving presents us with an opportunity to develop one of the healthiest, most life-affirming and convivial of all habits – that of counting and rejoicing in our blessings. Gratitude’s benefits Research shows that grateful people tend to be healthy and happy. They exhibit lower levels of stress and depression, cope better with adversity and sleep better. They tend to be happier and more satisfied with life. Even their partners tend to be more content with their relationships. Perhaps when we are more focused on the good things we enjoy in life, we have more to live for and tend to take better care of ourselves and each other.
When researchers asked people to reflect on the past week and write about things that either irritated them or about which they felt grateful, those tasked with recalling good things were more optimistic, felt better about their lives and actually visited their physicians less. It is no surprise that receiving thanks makes people happier, but so does expressing gratitude. An experiment that asked participants to write and deliver thank-you notes found large increases in reported levels of happiness, a benefit that lasted for an entire month. Philosophical roots One of the greatest minds in Western history, the Greek philosopher Aristotle, argued that we become what we habitually do. By changing our habits, we can become more thankful human beings. If we spend our days ruminating on all that has gone poorly and how dark the prospects for the future appear, we can think ourselves into misery and resentment. But we can also mold ourselves into the kind of people
who seek out, recognize and celebrate all that we have to be grateful for. This is not to say that anyone should become a Pollyanna, ceaselessly reciting the mantra from Voltaire’s “Candide,” “All is for the best in this, the best of all possible worlds.” There are injustices to be righted and wounds to be healed, and ignoring them would represent a lapse of moral responsibility. But reasons to make the world a better place should never blind us to the many good things it already affords. How can we be compassionate and generous if we are fixated on deficiency? This explains why the great Roman statesman Cicero called gratitude not only the greatest of virtues but the “parent” of them all. Religious roots Gratitude is deeply embedded in many rel i g i o u s traditions. In Judaism, the first words of the morning prayer could be translated, “I thank you.” Another saying addresses the question, “Who is rich?” with this answer: “Those who rejoice in what they have.” From a Christian perspective, too, gratitude and thanksgiving are vital. Before Jesus shares his
last meal with his disciples, he gives thanks. So vital a part of Christian life is gratitude that author and critic G.K. Chesterton calls it “the highest form of thought.” Gratitude also plays an essential role in Islam. The 55th chapter of the Quran enumerates all the things human beings have to be grateful for – the Sun, Moon, clouds, rain, air, grass, animals, plants, rivers and oceans – and then asks, “How can a sensible person be anything but thankful to God?” Other traditions also stress the importance of thankfulness. Hindu festivals celebrate blessings and offer thanks for them. In Buddhism, gratitude develops patience and serves as an antidote to greed, the corrosive sense that we never have enough. Roots even in suffering In his 1994 book, “A Whole New Life,” the Duke University English professor Reynolds Price describes how his battle with a spinal cord tumor that left him partially paralyzed also taught him a great deal about what it means to really live. After surgery, Price describes “a kind of stunned beatitude.” With time, though diminished in many ways by his tumor and its treatment, he learns to pay closer attention to the world around him and those who populate it. Reflecting on the change in his writing, Price notes that his books differ in many ways from those he penned as a younger man. Even his handwriting, he says, “looks very little like that of the man he was at the time of his diagnosis.” A brush with death can open our eyes. Some of us emerge with a deepened appreciation for the preciousness of each day, a clearer sense of our real
priorities and a renewed commitment to celebrating life. In short, we can become more grateful, and more alive, than ever. Practicing gratitude When it comes to practicing gratitude, one trap to avoid is locating happiness in things that make us feel better off – or simply better – than others. In my view, such thinking can foster envy and jealousy. There are marvelous respects in which we are equally blessed – the same Sun shines down upon each of us, we all begin each day with the same 24 hours, and each of us enjoys the free use of one of the most complex and powerful resources in the universe, the human brain. Much in our culture seems aimed to cultivate an attitude of deficiency – for example, most ads aim to make us think that to find happiness we must buy something. Yet most of the best things in life – the beauty of nature, conversation and love – are free. There are many ways to cultivate a disposition of thankfulness. One is to make a habit of giving thanks regularly – at the beginning of the day, at meals and the like, and at day’s end. Likewise, holidays, weeks, seasons and years can be punctuated with thanks – grateful prayer or meditation, writing thank-you notes, keeping a gratitude journal and consciously seeking out the blessings in situations as they arise. Gratitude can become a way of life, and by developing the simple habit of counting our blessings, we can enhance the degree to which we are truly blessed.p Richard Gunderman is a Chancellor's Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, Indiana University
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